Philippines, 19 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Petecio, Villegas Oust French Foes; Biggest Gainers, Losers in Paris Boxing


PhilBoxing.com



Aira Villegas (L) and Nesthy Petecio (R).

In our tunnel vision-like focus of attention on how our boxers were faring in their quest for podium finish in the last Paris Summer Olympics, we may have overlooked the fact that Nesty Petecio and Aira Villegas were responsible in eliminating two fancied women boxers from the host France.

Petecio ousted Amina Zidani, 4-1, in the second round of the competition at women's featherweight while Villegas eliminated Wassila Lakhdiri, 3-2, in the quarterfinal round in the women's flyweight.

Any fear that judging will favor the host boxers were vanished with these results as the two French women boxers had qualified to the competitions on their own merit.

Zidani won the gold medal in the 2023 European Games held in Poland that secured her place in Paris. She defeated Svetlana Staneva of Bulgaria in the finals of that qualifying Games.

At the same tournament Lhakdiri, in the gold medal match after three straight wins, lost to Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkey in the light flyweight finals. But since there was no light flyweight division in Paris, France as host exercised its guaranteed quota to put her as among the entries at flyweight.

As host, France was guaranteed six spots in boxing, three each for men and women. But essentially it made use of this privilege to advance just four boxers including Lakhdiri and eventual men's super heavyweight bronze medalist Djamili Dini, Aboubou Moindze who just finished third in the European Games. Eventual men's silver medalists Billal Benmena (flyweight) and Sofianne Oumiha (lightweight) qualified by topping their class in the European Games. All in all, France fielded eight boxers in Paris and garnered two silvers and one bronze.

The Philippines qualified five to include Felix Marcial, Carlo Paalam and Hergie Bacyadan in the women's 75 kg class who qualified through the last qualifiers held in Thailand. Our team went home with two bronze medals courtesy of Petecio and Villegas.

Uzbekistan send 11 boxers to Paris and won the overall championship with five golds, all in men. First runner up China qualified eight and went home with three golds and two silvers all in women's boxing.

Chinese Taipei sent six and reaped one gold through the controversial Lin Yu Ting and two bronzes.

Cuba qualified five boxers and won a gold through Erislandy Lazaro at lightweight and a bronze through deposed defending champion Arlen Lopez at light heavyweight. Cuba suffered with the non return of their two previous gold winners Julio La Cruz, Andy Cruz and Roniel Iglesias.

Algeria sent five and won a gold through the equally controversial Imane Kheilif who like Lin were questioned for their gender identity.

Ukraine had three boxers and won a gold through former Marcial middleweight rival foe Oleksander Khrisniak who ruled the light heavyweights in his first try.

Qualifying ten boxers each are Ireland, Kazakhstan and Brazil with only Ireland hitting a gold and Kazakhstan a couple of medals. Brazil did worst with just a bronze. The US qualified eight but won just a bronze through Omari Jones, a big dip from their last four medals in Tokyo.

Australia qualified the most number of entries with 12 but just reaped two bronzes through Charlie Senior in the men's and Caitlin Parker in women's. It would have been more disastrous had Senior not gained the nod over Paalam in their controversial quarterfinal match.

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Jayson Vayson and Oscar Collazo Face Off at Press Conference (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • LIMA: WHEN I FINISH WITH BOOTS, PEOPLE WILL KNOW ME
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Bangon, Kabayan: Pistahan sa Fulton
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • It’s a Wrap - Nearly 4,000 Fans Attend 2025 Box Fan Expo in Las Vegas, Featuring Boxing Legends, Current Stars and Rising Amateur Talent at the Ultimate Boxing Fan Experience
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Split-T Management Signs U.S. National Champion Obed Bartee-El
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: A wonderful spectacle in Las Vegas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • TRAINER OF THE YEAR BOB SANTOS TO MAKE BROADCASTING DEBUT AT BOXLAB PROMOTIONS' “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” ON SEPTEMBER 19
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Five Boxers Closed Fights Early via RSC During Wednesday’s Competition
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Vayson aims to make history
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Day Two of 2025 USA Boxing National Open Delivers 108 Action-Packed Bouts in Tulsa
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Bryce Mills Boxes James Bernadin At del Lago Resort & Casino On Thursday, Oct. 30, in Waterloo, NY
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Caribbean Clash Returns Friday, November 7th at Gulfstream Park Casino in Hallandale, Florida
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • VM Sotto, City Council Recognize GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Larida is Southern Coach of the Year
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • D.C. Knockout Artist Scooter Davis Signs Promotional Contract with Top Rank
    , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 15 SEPTEMBER 2025: Crawford Snatches Canelo's Undisputed Crown at 168 Lbs; Inoue Defeats Akhmadliev to Retain 4 Superbantam Belts; Crocker Outpoints Donovan
    By Eric Armit, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • TICKET NEWS: EUBANK JR-BENN II ON SALE FROM THIS WEDNESDAY
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Canelo-Crawford: The Consolidation of Boxing’s New Commercial Empire
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • A New Era for Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford Shatters Global Viewership Records on Netflix
    By Dong Secuya, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Crawford Not the First Lightweight to Distinguish Himself at Super Middleweight
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 17 Sep 2025
  • Kurt Scoby and Josh Popper Headline Boxing Insider Card September 19 in Times Square
    , Wed, 17 Sep 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.