| |
|
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:
Lorenzo Parra Delivers Stunning Second-Round Knockout at Sold-Out Manny Pacquiao Promotions Event at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Almacen Bros Score Knockout Wins in Exciting Brico Santig Show in Thailand Live on TrillerTV By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Lorenzo Patricio and Lavant Brownlee Advance to Gold Medal Round in Bulgaria , Sun, 01 Mar 2026HALL OF FAMER TIMOTHY BRADLEY JR. TO RETURN TO CANASTOTA FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME INDUCTION WEEKEND , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Paras stops Abcede in 2nd round By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Undefeated Welterweight Ruben Aguilar Stops Luis Lopez in Eight Brutal Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at University of Texas in Arlington , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Patricio, Brownlee and Awinongya Enter Medal Rounds on Day Five of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026IM Arca finishes in eight place in Pacquiao chess; NM Ilar pockets P100,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026DC Half Marathon on March 8 at Freedom Park By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Athletics Festival Season 4 on March 21-22 By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 01 Mar 2026Nuñez vs Navarrete: Knuckle Up for a Certified Banger By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026‘There's no way I'm going to lose’ -- Holly McMath looks to make a statement in high-stakes trilogy fight , Sat, 28 Feb 2026WEIGHTS, RUNNING ORDER AND FINAL WORDS FOR NAVARRETE VS. NUNEZ , Sat, 28 Feb 2026WEIGH-IN RESULTS FOR MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS: PIERCE VS. PARRA , Sat, 28 Feb 2026Former US President Obama will donate Ali gloves to his presidential library By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 28 Feb 2026Almacen Brothers Make Weight, Ready for Battle in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Four United States Women's Boxers Shine Bright on Day Four of Strandja 2026 Boxing Tournament , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Matthew James Sugatan wins Flash-ADV 160 9-Ball Tournament at Pacman's Cue Club; pockets P30,000 By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Vazquez vs. Machuca’ at College Park Center in the University of Texas , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Ethan Matthew Gabriel tops Boscolympics 2026 Grade School chess meet , Fri, 27 Feb 2026Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas , Fri, 27 Feb 2026IM Christian Gian Karlo Tade - Arca outwits GM Pa Iniyan in Round 6 of the Manny Pacquiao International Open chess By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 26 Feb 2026San Francisco Boxing Leaders Bring It Back: FIGHT NIGHT AT ROCCAPULCO , Thu, 26 Feb 2026Alyssa Mendoza, Salim Ellis-Bey and Kelvin Watts Secure Wins on Day Three of 2026 Strandja Boxing Tournament , Thu, 26 Feb 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|