JAKARTA – Filipino Rogen Ladon claimed an intentional head-butt by Uzbek Jasurbek Lastipov deprived him of a shot at the gold medal in the flyweight final of the 18th Asian Games at the Jakarta International Expo.
Ladon settled for the silver medal on Saturday when a clash of heads left him with a deep cut above the right eye that prompted the referee to stop the fight with 22 seconds left in the second round.
Ladon felt the head butt was not accidental.
“Sadya talaga,” said the Filipino fighter. “Pagpasok ko, bigla din siya pumasok sa akin. Talagang parang sinadya na niya rin. Impact talaga. Lakas ng impact.”
“Siyempre, napakalaking panghihinayang. Inaasam atin ‘yung ginto. Kaya talagang dismayado ako."
Ladon also couldn't believe that Lastipov was leading, 3-1, when the fight was stopped, insisting he was the one landing the more solid punches.
The Uzbek was ahead on three of the judges’ scorecards, 20-18, 20-18, 20-18, with one judge favoring the Filipino, 20-18. One judge had it 19-19.
“Talagang amin talaga first round kasi wala siyang suntok na ano talaga. Hindi nga siya makatama eh. Mas marami pa akong suntok na ano sa kanya,” said Ladon.
“Kuha ko na ‘yung laro. Sabi nga ng coach niya sa akin, bilisan ko laro ko. Nakipagtagisan ako kasi seeded siya eh. Sinubok ko ‘yung galing niya,” he said.
The Olympian said there's no point filing a protest.
“Hindi ko na iniisip ‘yun. Sila na bahala diyan. Hindi naman natin hawak ang judges. Sila ang nagdedesisyon kaya hindi na ako nag-aano. Kapag nagreklamo tayo, matagal na proseso ‘yun. Dami pang pagdadaanan,” said Ladon.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
