THE golden victories by four Filipino boxers at the Boxam Elite Tournament in Alicante, Spain over the weekend, underscored their readiness for the Paris Olympic qualifying tournaments ahead, according to Marcus Manalo, secretary general of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP).
“This is not yet the Olympic Qualifiers, but at least, we know we’re taking good steps in that direction,” Manalo said in a social media post.
Aira Cordero Villegas, Nesthy Petecio, Hergie Tao-wag Bacyadan, and Rogen Ladon defeated their respective final opponents in the tournament participated by 208 boxers from 30 countries, nine of them from Asia, including the Philippines.
Ladon did not have to throw a punch in winning the first gold for the Philippines as he won by default over Hungarian Istvan Szaka in the men’s featherweight (57 kgs). But he took the well-deserved final slot following back-to-back victories over Scott Richards of Wales and Ari Bonilla of Mexico in the quarters and semifinals, respectively.
Petecio, a Tokyo Games’ silver medalist in the women’s 57 kgs, overpowered Tokyo bronze medalist and fellow world champion Huang Hsiao-Wen of Chinese Taipei, 4-1.
The other two were provided for Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg), and a ferocious Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg).
Villegas made the right adjustment in the final round to escape with a split decision win over two-time World Champion Kazakh, Nazym Kyzaibay.
Proving to herself to be one of the country’s top bets, Bacyadan capped the Philippines’ stint with a golden win over Kazakhstan’s Gulsaya Yerzhan in the women’s middleweight class (75kg).
The four and the rest of the Philippine team will stay in Spain for training camp until the first Paris Olympics Qualifying tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy slated from Feb. 29 to Mar. 12.
Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Eumir Marcial was the first Filipino boxer to qualify for the Paris Games following his silver-medal finish in the light heavyweight class last October in the Hangzhou Asian Games.