Petecio, Paalam, Ladon and Marcial are Philippines’ best hopes in the Asian Games

Philippines proved in the recent decades that the country is a key boxing nation in our continent and the Southeast Asian power will be sending eight boxers to the upcoming Asian Games. Their woman star Nesthy Petecio and their top men boxers such as Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon and Eumir Felix Marcial are all strong favourites in the Asian Games.
Philippines achieved 15 gold medals, 8 silver and 29 bronze medals in the history of the Asian Games among the men boxers. Their women squad achieved one silver medal since the female part of the sport has been added to the Asian Games. Their last title was won by Rey Saludar at the men’s flyweight (52kg) in the Guangzhou 2010 Asian Games.
The Filipino team attended at the Korotkov Memorial Tournament in Russia, at the Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup, at the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament in Bangkok and at the Kapolri Cup in Indonesia during their preparations to the Asian Games. Their boxers achieved plenty of titles and medals on these events and expecting top results in the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games.
Philippines’ best woman boxer Jeju 2014 AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships silver medallist Nesthy Petecio defeated most of her Asian rivals during the preparation events this year. The 26-year-old Filipino boxer is a strong hope at the women’s featherweight (57kg) who has got realistic chance to win gold medal in Jakarta. Philippines’ second woman boxer in the Asian Games will be ASBC Asian Confederation Women’s Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Aira Villegas at the flyweight (51kg).
Carlo Paalam robbed to the best boxers of the men’s light flyweight (49kg) when he claimed bronze medal in the St. Petersburg 2016 AIBA Youth World Boxing Championships. Since then he won several international elite tournaments as the Republic of Kazakhstan President’s Cup and the Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament with top performances and he could be Uzbekistan’s star Hasanboy Dusmatov main rival in Jakarta.
Rogen Ladon achieved bronze medal in the Doha 2015 AIBA World Boxing Championships but since then the 25-year-old hope moved up to the flyweight (52kg) which is traditionally strong in the Philippines. Mario Fernandez claimed bronze medal in the Incheon 2014 Asian Games at the bantamweight (56kg) and regained his place in the national team to show his bests in Jakarta as well.
James Palicte was gold medallist in the Subic Bay 2013 ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships and he needed a few years to reach the level of the top boxers. The 24-year-old lightweight (60kg) boxer achieved silver medal at the Korotkov Memorial Tournament in Russia where he defeated tough European hopes as well.
Joel Bacho is Philippines’ top welterweight (69kg) boxer who has got experiences from the biggest events as well. Philippines’ next big hope in the Asian Games will be WSB hope Eumir Felix Marcial who achieved silver in the Bangkok 2015 ASBC Asian Confederation Boxing Championships and he is among the favourites at the middleweight (75kg).

Philippine’s team in the upcoming Jakarta 2018 Asian Games
Women’s 51kg: Aira Villegas
Women’s 57kg: Nesthy Petecio
Men’s 49kg: Carlo Paalam
Men’s 52kg: Rogen Ladon
Men’s 56kg: Mario Fernandez
Men’s 60kg: James Palicte
Men’s 69kg: Joel Bacho
Men’s 75kg: Eumir Felix Marcial

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