The possibility of having two Negrense boxers in the Beijing Olympics has increased following reports that Cadiz-born fighter Godfrey Castro will be joining Joan Tipon in the final Olympic qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan this month.

Castro, a bronze medalist in the Asian Games in Qatar two years ago, is the leading candidate to replace the injured lightflyweight Violito Payla in the team.

“Castro is 95 percent sure as replacement for Payla,” a reliable source in the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines told the DAILY STAR.

Payla, gold medalist in the Asiad, injured his shoulder, while training in Baguio City recently.

If Castro takes Payla’s place, it will mark the second time that he has been summoned to replace a big-name member of the RP squad in a big tournament.

Castro also supplanted Harry Tañamor in the team during the Asian Games. Tañamor was dismissed from the squad for disciplinary reasons.

Another Asiad gold medalist, Tipon of Bacolod and Talisay City missed out on an Olympic berth in the World Championships in Chicago last year and in the Asian qualifiers in Bangkok in January.

But he is expected to clinch a slot in the quadrennial games as lower-rated Asian boxers will be competing in Kazakhstan.*CPT

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