Manila, Philippines – Five Filipino boxers will compete in the Asian Men Boxing Championships slated April 1-8 in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Crack boxers from more than 40 countries are seeing action in the tournament, a qualifying event for the 2012 London Olympics.

“We will send a maximum of five boxers to have a good chance getting an Olympics slots,” ABAP executive director Ed Picson told TEMPO.

Carrying the country’s tricolors include Beijing Asian Games gold and Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Rey Saludar and Joan Tipon.

So far only Mark Anthony Barrega had qualified to the 2012 Olympics to be hosted by Great Britain for the first time since 1948. (Clyde Mariano)