Boxer Leo Mhar Lobrido eyes golden comeback after Asian Youth Games bronze

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Leo Mhar Lobrido, who comes from the proud Vicera boxing family that has produced Olympians, puts his loss in the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain into perspective

SAKHIR, Bahrain – Losing is sometimes a bitter pill to swallow, but boxer Leo Mhar Lobrido is turning his latest defeat into his greatest motivation.

Lobrido is eyeing a golden comeback after settling for bronze in the Asian Youth Games following a unanimous decision loss to Uzbekistan’s Abdugani Yorkinjonov in the semifinals of the boys’ 46kg division at the Exhibition World Bahrain here on Tuesday, October 28.

One of the Philippines’ top medal bets in the continental showdown for athletes 14 to 18 years old, Lobrido got denied his shot at the gold as Yorkinjonov earned the nod of all five judges, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27.

“It was probably just not for me. Maybe I’ll win gold in the next competition,” said Lobrido in Filipino.

Coming from the proud Vicera boxing family that has produced Olympians in Isidro (1992 Barcelona) and Virgilio (1996 Atlanta), the 16-year-old from Bago City, Negros Occidental, lived up to his billing with convincing wins in his first two bouts.

Lobrido dominated Jordan’s Salte Al Hadidi in the preliminary, then beat Sri Lanka’s Binul Dulnada Dewasiri Narayana in the quarterfinals to guarantee himself a medal.

But the taller Yorkinjonov ended the Filipino’s run, with the Uzbek’s narrow 3-2 win in the opening round setting the tone of the fight.

“The loss means that I still have to do more training and apply the things I lack. Maybe next time I’ll win gold,” said Lobrido, who also served as the Philippines’ flag bearer in the opening ceremony together with volleybelle Harlyn Serneche.

Still, the bronze was an achievement for Lobrido as he delivered the lone medal of the Philippine boxing team, which brought six boxers: four males and two females. – Rappler.com