4 Filipino boxers advance in Olympic qualifying
FOUR Olympic boxers have advanced to the next round of their divisions in the Olympic qualifying tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
The tournament started on March 3, with Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio knocking out Serbia’s Andela Brankovic in the 57 kilogram (kg) division and Asian Games medalist Rogen Ladon defeating Italian Federico Emilio Serra via split decision in the 51 kg division.
On Tuesday, Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 63.5 kg) and Ronald Chavez Jr. (71 kg) also won their first matches, against Albertino Monteiro of Portugal (via knockout) and Bruno de Barros Fernandez of Cape Verde (via split decision), respectively.
Ladon is scheduled to face Said Mortaji of Morocco in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, while Petecio will be facing Maria Claudia Nechita of Romania on Thursday.
Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam was already assured of a spot in the Round of 32 through a bye.
He will take on the winner between Mexico’s Andrey Bonilla and Germany’s Murat Yildirim.
In the men’s 92 kg, John Marvin will battle Iran’s Pouria Amiri on Wednesday afternoon (Italy time).
In the women’s 60 kg, however, Riza Pasuit lost to Venezuela’s Krisandy Rios via unanimous decision.
Claudine Veloso will first take part in the Round of 32 of the women’s 54 kg on Thursday against Japan’s Mikoto Harada, while Hergie Bacaydan opens her campaign against Brazil’s Viviane Pereira in the women’s 75 kg.
In the women’s 50 kg, Aira Villegas will be gunning for a spot in the next round when she tackles McKenzie Wright of Canada on Friday.
The Philippine boxing team, headlined by Petecio and Paalam, is currently participating in the qualifiers for the upcoming Olympics that will be held in Paris, France, in July.
Only one Filipino boxer has already pre-qualified to the Games, in Eumir Marcial, through his silver medal campaign at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, last year.