Philippines, 18 Apr 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


The fighting five


PhilBoxing.com




You can’t say enough about the fighting heart of the five Philippine boxers who qualified for the Paris Olympics. Lightheavyweight Eumir Marcial was first to book a ticket by making it to the final of the Asian Games in Hangzhou last October. Then, lightflyweight Aira Villegas and featherweight Nesthy Petecio got their passes at the first World Qualifying Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy last March. Finally, featherweight Carlo Paalam and middleweight Hergie Bacyadan secured their entry at the second World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok last week.

Marcial, Paalam and Petecio competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with each landing a podium finish. Paalam and Petecio were a win short of a gold while Marcial claimed a bronze. They could’ve rested on their laurels and just enjoyed the lavish incentives as Olympic medalists but resisted the temptation to work even harder for a second Olympic trip. In Paris, Marcial and Paalam are moving up in weight because their divisions in Tokyo have been scrapped. Marcial fought in the middleweight (75kg) class in Tokyo and is now in the lightheavyweight (80kg) division. Paalam was a flyweight (52kg) in Tokyo and will battle as a featherweight (57kg) in Paris. Petecio is a constant at featherweight (57kg).

Villegas will fight as a lightflyweight (50kg) and Bacyadan as a middleweight (75kg) in Paris. When Villegas bagged a bronze at the 2019 SEA Games, she was a bantamweight (54kg) so the drop in weight is significant. Villegas, 28, was a long-shot for Paris. She was eliminated in the preliminaries at the Asian Games last year but swept her three assignments at the Boxam International Tournament in Spain last February then won three in a row at the first World Olympic Qualifiers to nail a slot to Paris.

Bacyadan, 29, was even a longer shot. She traversed from wushu to boxing to vovinam and back to boxing for a chance to make it to Paris. Bacyadan, who idolizes Canelo Alvarez, never took a medal at the SEA or Asian Games but surprisingly, barged into the Asian Boxing Confederation semis in Amman in 2022. She rejoined the ABAP squad for tournaments in Australia and Spain this year. Bacyadan was bundled out in the prelims at the first World Olympic Qualifiers but proved her worth by winning three straight for a Paris ticket at the second World Olympic Qualifiers.

Petecio, 32, is a former world champion with two SEA Games golds in her collection. Like Paalam, she took a silver at the Tokyo Olympics and vowed to return to the Games for another shot at the gold. Petecio nearly ended her boxing career over a personal issue before 2019 but kept faith in God to pursue her journey to the top. Paalam, 25, was a scavenger as a boy and took to boxing as a way out of poverty at the age of seven in Cagayan de Oro. He was recruited by coach Elmer Pamisa to train with Gov. Oscar Moreno’s pool of youth athletes and in Paris, they’ll be together in going for gold.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Beltran faces Crenz in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Into to fight Jones in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • USA Boxing International Concludes Day Two Competition
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Little Pancho: A Filipino Fighter in the Ring, an American Soldier to the End
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Beltran ready to fight in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Arca stuns English GM, maintains share of top spot in Bangkok Chess Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Melvin’s target is Collazo
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Piala fights Choki in WBC Grand Prix
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • There will be NO DRAWS at the World Boxing Council Grand Prix in Riyadh
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • WBC Boxing Grand Prix set April 17-20
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • ROY JONES JR BOXING PRESENTS “FIGHT NIGHT AT THE GILLESPIE” DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, KY SATURDAY, APRIL 19
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Day One of the 2025 USA Boxing International Open Concludes
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • LA28 Celebrates Updated Olympic Venue Plan Showcasing the Best of Los Angeles on the World Stage
    , Thu, 17 Apr 2025
  • Memo in Navarrete’s camp
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 16 Apr 2025
  • Dubs Hold Off Grizzlies, 121-116 to Clinch #7 Playoff Spot in the West
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 16 Apr 2025
  • PH Teen Arca Upsets Super GM Gustafsson
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 16 Apr 2025
  • SMITH: I'LL PROVE WHY I'M MANDATORY FOR THE WBC WORLD TITLE
    , Wed, 16 Apr 2025
  • UNDEFEATED STANFORD SENIOR DANTE “THE INFERNO” KIRKMAN RETURNS MAY 24 IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
    , Wed, 16 Apr 2025
  • The Past Week in Action 14 April 2025: Ennis Retires Stanionis in 6, Unifies IBF/WBA Welter Titles; Spencer Defeats Suarez; Pro Boxing Returns in Cuba; Astrolabio, Nietes Win in Manila
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 15 Apr 2025
  • What Happened to the Goodman Fight? Inoue on Replacement, Mismatch Spree
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 15 Apr 2025
  • Ambuang wins 1799 Below FIDE Tournament in Tangub City
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 15 Apr 2025
  • FUNDORA VS. BADILLO UNDERCARD TO BE STACKED WITH GOLDEN BOY’S FUTURE STARS
    , Tue, 15 Apr 2025
  • NM Nika Juris Nicolas finishes fourth in Cincinnati Chess Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 15 Apr 2025
  • May 10: Andres Cortes-Salvador Jimenez Junior Lightweight Showdown Featured on Navarrete-Suarez Undercard at Pechanga Arena San Diego LIVE on ESPN+
    , Tue, 15 Apr 2025
  • BOOTS AND HEARN TELL WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONS – DARE TO BE GREAT!
    , Tue, 15 Apr 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.