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Tañamor’s Olympic goal: Gold or bust |
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Written by Staff
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Sunday, 27 July 2008 13:48 |
 BAGUIO – For Harry Tañamor, it’s gold or bust in Beijing.
Since January, the 29-year-old Zamboanga native has trained his sights on the Olympic gold, undergoing a Spartan-like training and competing in a number of tournaments abroad to further hone up his skills.
Back here, the country’s lone bet in boxing, who gained a berth with a silver medal finish in last year’s World Championship in Chicago, has been religiously following a regimen that includes mid-morning and afternoon training in the gym and road work at the Phil. Sports Commission oval tracks at Teacher’s Camp.
Road runs for 500, 400 and 300 meters and 200 and 100 meter sprints are daily fare for the RP’s lightfly bet, who also does jabs and spars with RP boxer-trainees for 30 minutes.
To further fire him up, Tañamor would do the skipping ropes, bag punches, technique and tactics rounds and reflex and reaction movements around the ring under coach Pat Gaspi and Cuban mentor Enrique Steyner Tissert.
"He is decided and dedicated for that gold," said Gaspi, who also trained 1996 Atlanta Olympic silver medalist Onyok Velasco. "He is psychologically prepared to snatch it."
After Velasco, the country never came close to winning the Olympic gold.
"Tañamor is our positive chance," said Gaspi.
Tañamor’s weight, inside and outside fighting style, including long, medium and short distance skills is very much like Velasco. "Onyok is strong inside and even outside just like Harry," said Gaspi.
With barely two weeks left before the Olympics, Gaspi said Tañamor has tapered off in his training.
"Harry is really hell-bent in winning the gold or at least a medal of any color," said Gaspi, adding that the draw will also be crucial for Tañamor.
"But it all boils down to timing, luck and of course, talent," said Gaspi.
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