“STOP IT,” HOLLERED THE HOMECOMING expert. “Who told you young Filipino amateur boxers would be too tender and raw to compete and win in the London Olympics?”

That was boxing guru Hermie Rivera, who has produced two world champions, Luisito Espinosa and Morris East.

My reply: That was a personal perception, based on the revitalized youth boxing development program being pursued by the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines with the sustained backing of Smart.

“You’re wrong, terribly wrong,” Hermie fired away. “Do remember that Muhammad Ali was only a teenager when he won the Olympic boxing gold.”

* * *

Oh, sorry about that. But Ali is Ali, one of a kind.

“Of course, there had also been teenaged Olympic champions from Cuba and other European countries,” he countered.

Well, thank you for the information, sir.

You see, in my last column, it was stated that the finest from the current national youth tournaments involving simon-pures aged 11 to 17 could aspire but may not be ripe for the London Olympics in 2012.

Hermie Rivera readily protested, obviously taking that as a dig on the quality and ability of Filipino boxers.

* * *

Far from it, sir.

In fact, thanks to Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxer has become a very respected species in the world.

Indeed, a Pinoy teener, given the genuine talent search that now reaches deep into the grassroots, could qualify and hopefully make waves in the Olympics.

Unfortunately, that early Olympic trip could be stopped before it’s started.

Why? Well, the aspirant teener is bound to be fed first to the lions.

How? This killing experience could happen once the promising Pinoy youngster is pitted against battle-scarred Olympic losers in the unavoidable qualifying boxoffs.

* * *

“What’s Harry Tañamor doing there in the RP team to the Laos Games?” protested respected sports scribe Ding Marcelo, veteran of several Olympic jousts.

Marcelo put it bluntly when he said the specter of Tañamor next trying out for the London Olympics against younger inexperienced aspirants is a big blow to all the reforms being mounted in the national amateur boxing backyard.

But can the Abap, in sending Tañamor to Laos, be blamed for also naming other recycled veterans to the RP boxing team?

* * *

The Abap, no doubt, is in a big dilemma.

It’s clear it wanted to send younger fighters to Laos for much-needed exposure.

But, at the same time, the Abap is hard-pressed to win and bring home medals.

The result is another reunion of recycled veterans for the RP team in an international tournament.

* * *

Still, Hermie Rivera believes one or two young Filipino boxers will emerge from the talent pool being developed by Abap and Smart.

“With talents galore, as you mentioned, they are bound to stumble on a winner from among the young ones who could go all the way to London,” the boxing expert maintained.

He said the gold medal for RP could come ahead of the 2016 Brazil Olympics.

Let’s pray Hermie’s words turn into those prophesied by angels.