| |
|
Boxers gird for Olympic qualifiers
By Joaquin Henson PhilBoxing.com Tue, 30 Jan 2024
 Paalam (L) and Ladon (R) lead ten PH boxers hoping to qualify for Paris Olympics.
Five male and five female boxers are out to join Eumir Marcial in representing the country in the coming Olympics but their road to Paris will go through tough qualifiers in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on Feb. 29-March 12 and in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 23-June 3.
ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo said yesterday he expects “a really tough task to qualify at the world level.” So far, 109 boxers from 49 countries have booked tickets to Paris, making it via the continental route in the European Games, Asian Games, Pan American Games, Pacific Games and Africa Games. Australia has the most qualifiers with 12 in 13 divisions. Brazil is next with nine. China leads Asia with seven followed by Thailand, Uzbekistan and Chinese-Taipei with four apiece. Japan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and North Korea account for two each.
There will be 50 slots up for grabs in the Italy qualifiers, 28 in men’s and 22 in women’s. In the Bangkok qualifiers, up to 51 boxers will advance. The IOC has allocated four universality slots for men in the 57kg, 63.5kg, 71kg and 80kg divisions and five for women in the 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg and 66kg divisions.
For the Philippines, the five male hopefuls are Rogen Ladon, 30 (51kg), Carlo Paalam, 25 (57kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo, 19 (63.5kg), Ronald Chavez, Jr., 24 (71kg) and John Marvin, 31 (92kg). The five female contenders are Aira Villegas, 28 (50kg), Claudine Veloso, 24 (54kg), Nesthy Petecio, 31 (57kg), Riza Pasuit, 31 (60kg) and Hergie Bacyadan, 29 (75kg).
Manalo said the 10-strong squad trained in Australia last Jan. 14-27 and will participate in the Boxam Tournament in Alicante, Spain on Jan. 29-Feb. 4. Then, the team will set up camp at the Infanta Cristina High Performance Center in Los Alcazares, Murcia, Spain on Feb. 4-28. The fighters will fly from Murcia to Italy for the first Olympic qualifier.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS & TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO PRESENT CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28 - VERONA, NY , Sat, 10 Jan 2026ELIF TURHAN SIGNS NEW MULTI-FIGHT DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING – FIRST IBF WORLD TITLE DEFENCE DATE SET FOR SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 , Sat, 10 Jan 2026Driving Philippine Tennis Forward: Jean Henri Lhuillier Champions the 2026 Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Tour By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 10 Jan 20262026 USA Boxing Elite High Performance Selection Camp Attendees Announced , Sat, 10 Jan 2026‘I’m ready to make some noise’ Billy Quinncroft returns for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53 , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Dableo and Laylo's Team to Compete in Bulacan By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Sanman Boxing present Yeerken vs. Carcedo WBA Asia South Title Clash in General Santos City on Feb 9 , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Hardstone adds 2 more title fights on January 26 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Panamerican Boxing Confederation Partners with Xempower for Digital and AI-Driven Transformation , Fri, 09 Jan 2026IGMOB TALENT GROUP Launches www.IGMOBTalent.com to Represent Fighters, Entertainers, and Rising Talent Across Sports & Media , Fri, 09 Jan 2026SEAG Davao-based athletes eye International stints By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 09 Jan 2026Canoy banking on his ring experience against Kuse By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026Undefeated Kansas Middleweight Prospect Marco “El Tiburon” Romero finished 2025 with 7th triumphs, all by knockout, & 11-0 record , Thu, 08 Jan 2026Kinetix Sports aims for bigger events in 2026 By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 08 Jan 20262026 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge on January 26 By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 08 Jan 2026World Ranked Heavyweight Dainier Pero Headlines on Saturday, January 17th at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia , Wed, 07 Jan 2026Jahyae Brown to Battle Arnold Gonzalez in Exciting Co-Feature on Thursday, January 15th at The War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey , Wed, 07 Jan 2026Hendri Cedeno Seeks Monumental Victory Against Alfredo Santiago for NABO Title January 10 at Barclays Center , Tue, 06 Jan 2026Kingsley Ibeh learned from his Loss 5 years ago to Jared Anderson , Tue, 06 Jan 2026Unified World Cruiserweight Champion Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez returning to Corpus Christi…as a promoter! , Tue, 06 Jan 2026Ocum to fight Ballesteros on January 26 By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 05 Jan 2026SEA Plus Youth Games - Tolentino By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 05 Jan 202687th Kalilangan Chess Festival Featuring Manny Pacquiao International Open to Push Through By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 05 Jan 2026Deniega to fight Oka in Japan By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 02 Jan 2026Illness forces Paddy Donovan to withdraw from IBF Welterweight World Eliminator January 16 versus Liam Paro in Australia , Fri, 02 Jan 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|