Thursday, 30 July 2026 · Philippines
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Payla Keeps Philippine Olympic Dream Alive

CHICAGO -- In the 268th bout of the AIBA World Championships held this Saturday, October 27th, Violito Payla scored a 'W' for Team Philippines with a win over Khalid Said of England 29-15.

This bout puts Payla, a veteran 2004 Philippine Olympian against another 2004 Olympian, American Raushee Warren. Warren, a highly decorated and multi-titled amateur, is by far the US Team's most experienced.

At sixteen years old, he was the youngest member of the entire US Olympic Team in all sports at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. At twenty years old, Warren has been touted as America's best hope for capturing Beijing Gold in 2008. This quarterfinal 51 kg flyweight bout will be Payla?s greatest challenge yet as he attempts a win against the super fast and hard hitting Warren. Payla has his work cut out for him but RP Coaches Pat Gaspi and Ronald Chavez are confident in their ward.

Top photo: Violito Payla, left, of the Philippines, lands a punch on Andrew Selby, of Wales, during their preliminary bout in the Flyweight 51kg class of the World Boxing Championships in Chicago, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. Payla advanced in the championship with a 24-4 win. (AP Photo/Brian Kersey)

Raushee Warren. USOC Photo

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