Filipino boxers Violito Payla and Joan Tipon not only gave the Philippines two of its three gold medals so far, their victories may well mark a watershed in the country's battle for Asian boxing supremacy against Thailand, local media reported on Thursday.

For years, both the Philippines and Thailand have fought a titanic war for boxing supremacy in the region, said a report by The Manila Bulletin daily, adding that the rivalry has extended to the Asian Games and the Olympics where the Thais have proven to be more superior.

Indeed, it was in boxing where Thailand won its first and second Olympic golds while the Philippines, whose own Olympic gold medal bid has always rested on boxing, has fallen short time and time again, said the report.

Finally, the Philippines made a breakthrough in the 15th Asian Games in Doha.

The 24-year-old Tipon, who nipped Athens Olympics silver medalist Worapoj Petchkoom of Thailand Monday, firmed up his claim as the top bantam in the region by demolishing Han Soon Chun of South Korea, 21-10, to earn the gold in the 54-kilogram class on Wednesday.

One day before Tipon's victory, the 27-year-old Payla dethronedan aging Songjit Jongjohor of Thailand with an impressive 31-15 decision to claim the flyweight crown.

The Filipino boxers said they will next focus on winning the golds in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2006)