It was later learned from Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines chief Manny Lopez that Galido, born and bred in Negros Occidental, just decided to quit because he was being given the raw end of the deal in scoring.

"Hindi naman kasi iniiskoran yung mga itinama niyang suntok kaya nag-decide na lang siyang mag-quit," said Lopez.

Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella said the crowd’s reaction was a message that the Philippines knows how to be gracious in defeat.

"We know how to lose," said Puentevella.

A couple of days ago, Thailand issued a statement alleging that the host country is doing everything to win the overall title, including cheating.

"So who’s guilty of cheating?" Puentevella said while members of Thailand’s amateur boxing association and Olympic Committee remained on their seats.

The host won four out of five gold at stake in the women’s division and Thailand just one, but only four men punchers succeeded in getting gold as the Thais turned to their big boys to break the hearts of the highly-partisan crowd.

Pinweight Juanito Magliquian and light fly Harry Tañamor breezed through their finals matches against Burmese rivals before Thailand entered the scene beginning with the triumph of the revered fly Somjit Jongjohor.

Magliquian bested Zaw Myo Min in the second round when the score stood at 22-3, while Tanamor, the defending champion, overwhelmed Kyaw Swan Aung in the third canto with the Filipino comfortably ahead, 27-7.

Jongjohor, the only Thai to eliminate a Filipino in Warlito Parreñas, flexed just enough muscle in dealing Vietnamese Tran Quoc Viet with a 16-7 decision.

Bantam Joan Tipon struck anew for the Philippines after he decisioned Tangtong Klongjan, 27-14, but feather Worapoj Petchkoom, the 2004 Athens Olympics silver medalist, put the Thais back in contention with a 33-22 win that turned out to be the spark that later ignited the ugly incident.

Then lightweight Genebert Basadre regained the momentum for the Philippines with an easy decision over Indonesian Miftah Rifai Lubis, who was handed a lopsided 3-23 loss.

Then the roof caved in for the Filipino bets.

Light-welter Romeo Brin was humbled by Pechai Sayota, while welter Non Boojumnong, brother of 2004 Athens gold medal winner Manus, toyed with hometowner Mark Melligen.

So intense was the Petchkum-Ladon encounter that a fight almost broke out in the media row involving a Thai journalist and a local radio reporter, who kept on jeering at each other despite the intervention of fellow journalists in the section.

The shouting match only ended when a handful of police officers came to the area and the crowd’s disgust surfaced again during the playing of the Thailand national anthem honoring Petchkum’s triumph when a big number across the arena opted to remain seated.

Another incident took place during and shortly after Sayota prevailed over Brin when hot-headed fans howled in protest as they accused one of the judges who was returning to his seat assignment of rigging his scoring.