Philippines, 04 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


ABAP eyes 7 more Tokyo tickets


PhilBoxing.com



Ed Picson.

The window is slowing closing on more boxing qualifiers for the coming Tokyo Olympics but ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said yesterday he’s hoping things will open up once training resumes at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba with the goal of nailing slots through the final world eliminations.

There are seven weight classes, five in men and two in women, where the Philippines has a crack to book Olympic tickets. That’s aside from early qualifiers Eumir Marcial (men’s middleweight) and Irish Magno (women’s flyweight). The final world eliminations should’ve taken place in Paris last May 13-24 but were suspended because of the pandemic. No definite schedule has been announced for the competition but Picson said it will likely be held in May or June. For the Philippines, the Olympic slots up for grabs in the final world qualifiers are in the men’s division, four in flyweight, five in featherweight, four in lightweight, five in welterweight and four in lightheavyweight and in the women’s division, four in featherweight and three or four in lightweight.

Picson said ABAP is assembling a squad of 19 fighters, 13 men and six women, to train in Calamba. The team includes Marcial and Magno. However, it’s not certain if Marcial will join the Calamba bubble as he’s now training in Los Angeles. The Calamba workouts will determine the fighters participating in the final world qualifiers. In the men’s division, the candidates are Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon and Marvin Tabamo for flyweight; Junilardo Ogayre, Ian Clark Bautista, Mario Fernandez and Charly Suarez for featherweight; James Palicte, Jere Samuel de la Cruz and John Paul Panuayan for lightweight; Marjon Pianan for welterweight and John Marvin for lightheavyweight. In the women’s division, the candidates are Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas for featherweight and Riza Pasuit and Analene Cellon for lightweight. Additionally, Josie Gabuco will be in Calamba as Magno’s sparring partner. Gabuco is a five-time SEA Games gold medalist but fights as a lightflyweight (48 kilograms). In Tokyo, the women’s classes start at flyweight (51 kilograms).

The battle for the men’s featherweight slot is expected to be intense. Ogayre, 21, is slightly favored but Bautista, Fernandez and Suarez are veterans who’ll be extremely competitive in the boxoffs. Bautista, 26, beat former AIBA Youth world champion Hayato Tsutsumi at the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifiers last March and took the bronze in the 2019 SEA Games. Fernandez, 27, is a two-time SEA Games gold medalist and Suarez, 32, is a three-time SEA Games gold medalist. Suarez turned pro in 2019 and has a 4-0 record, with 4 KOs. His next pro fight is set on Feb. 21. Picson said he’d prefer Suarez to start training in Calamba once the camp opens next week. Ogayre won gold in the 2016 Batang Pinoy and 2018 PNG. In 2019, he bagged the bronze at the Makran Cup in Iran, Belt and Road tournament in Shanghai and President’s Cup in Indonesia.

The ABAP fighters have been locked down in their home province for over six months with Marcial and Marvin the only exceptions. Marcial left for L. A. last October and made a successful pro debut, beating Andrew Whitfield on points in a four-rounder, also in L. A. last month. Marvin is in the UK training with the British Army but hopes to return here after settling family obligations next week. Picson said he’s arranging a training camp in Thailand for the Olympic hopefuls before the final world qualifiers but it’s still not sure because of travel restrictions.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Miguel Berchelt to Return in Reynosa, Tamaulipas; WBC Praises City’s Commitment
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Spicing up “Thrilla” card
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • SATURDAY: Oscar Valdez vs. Ricky Medina to be Broadcast LIVE on ESPN Deportes in the United States
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • SUGAR NUNEZ: I’M JUST GETTING STARTED
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Jennifer Lozano’s Targets Run at 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • University of the Philippines is Quezon City chess champ
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Ultimate Arm Wrestling Showdown on Sept. 7 in Digos
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 04 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Technological evolution or revolution?
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Result or Matias-Smith WBC super lightweight title match purse bid
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Vicelles fights in Japan on Sept. 7
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Yoelvis Gomez Speaks After Winning the WBA Continental Latin America Title
    , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Connor Coyle sets the record straight ‘Clean from Day One. Never cheated, never will’
    , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Requito stops Bambam in 3rd round
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 03 Sep 2025
  • Villarosa draws with Labajo, Enano wins
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Suarez, Magsayo Reliving High Point in PH Boxing at Super Featherweights
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Pacman back into full-time boxing
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Unbeaten Laurente Dominates Marapu to Capture IBF Pan-Pacific Lightweight Crown; Gaballo Wins in Co-Main Event
    , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Thunderdome 51 Review: Perth’s Joel Lewis claims title with stunning knockout
    , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • Paulette Cuesta and Susy Kandy Sandoval Set for Highly Anticipated Rematch in Tijuana
    , Tue, 02 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 31 August 2025
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • Gaballo, Laurente prevail in Gensan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • Paalam leads ABAP team in Liverpool
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • OKC Thunder Favored to Repeat as NBA Champs
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 01 Sep 2025
  • Pacman sets ‘Thrilla’ commemoration
    By Joaquin Henson, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025
  • Historic win for Paolo Gallito who edges Lee Van Cortez in the finals of the Efren "Bata" Reyes Yalin 10-Ball Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 31 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.