Light welterweight Genebert Basadre put the Philippines’ bid in the 15 th AIBA World Amateur Boxing Championships to a hot start with a big victory on Tuesday at the Mediolaforum in Milan, Italy.

The 25-year-old Basadre outscored Aamir Khan of Pakistan, 5-1, to set off the five-man Nationals’ campaign here in this 11-weight category championships.

The win set up Basadre for a Last 16 bout with Myke Carvajo of Brazil who nipped Manij Kumar of India, 5-4.
 
On Wednesday (Thursday morning in Manila), bantamweight Joan Tipon and lightweight Joegin Ladon try to become the second and third Filipinos into the second round.

Tipon tangles with Kamai Gamathiralalage of Sri Lanka while Ladon battles Thomas Stalker of England.

Featherweight Charly Suares sees action on Thursday when he faces Julian Stan of Romania while light flyweight Harry Tanamor, who drew a first round bye, enters the ring only on Saturday.

Tanamor, the team’s best bet, will fight an Armenian he has never fought or even seen before.
 
Tanamor, the country’s strongest hope for a medal who won a silver in the same tournament in 2007 ( Chicago) and a bronze in 2001 (Budapest, Hungary) and 2003 (Bangkok, Thailand), has no idea who Armenian Hovhannes Danielyan is.

“Hindi ko pa nakalaban yan. Ngayon ko pa nga lang nakita,” said Tanamor over breakfast on Tuesday.
 
Basadre’s biggest claim to fame was a silver medal victory in the tough King’s Cup in Bangkok this year. He won a bronze in the 2006 Doha Asian Games and bagged a gold in the weak SEA Games competitions in 2005 as a young boy who was discovered in the National Open.