Stars in the Philippines’ line-ups at the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event
The Philippines will send a huge delegation to the upcoming 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event which will be held in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
The Philippines had an impressive performance in the Tokyo Olympic Games where their boxers achieved two silver and one bronze medals. All of their Olympic heroes are still members of the national team and they are aiming to repeat that performance in Paris this year.
The Tokyo bronze medallist Eumir Felix Marcial has already qualified for the Paris Olympics through the Asian Games and the light heavyweight (80kg) boxer has specific preparation for the most important event of the year.
The Philippines opened the year in a training camp in Australia and their squad competed at the Boxam Tournament in La Nucia, Spain where the Southeast Asian boxing power earned four gold medals. The competition finished on February 3 but Team Philippines stayed in La Nucia, Spain in a multi-nations training camp until the start of the next Qualifier.
The 28-year-old Aira Villegas progressed well in this Olympic cycle and she claimed a title at the women’s light flyweight (50kg) in the recent Boxam Tournament. Claudine Veloso switched from kick-boxing to our sport and she is aiming for an Olympic spot at the women’s bantamweight (54kg).
Nesthy Petecio achieved medals in all of the major championships including the Tokyo Olympics, but she has the motivation to get a ticket to Paris as well. The Thailand Open Tournament winner Riza Pasuit (60kg) and the former Wushu star, the powerful Hergie Bacyadan (75kg) will also be there in Italy.
Philippines has strong boxing traditions in the smaller weight categories and their two stars such as the World bronze medallist Rogen Ladon (51kg) and the Tokyo Olympics runner-up Carlo Paalam (57kg) both have the routine to beat everyone in Busto Arsizio.
Mark Ashley Fajardo is a 19-year-old talent at the light welterweight (63.5kg) who opened the Asian Games with a classic KO and he received the call once again to the elite national team. Ronald Chavez Jr. competed for the Philippines mostly in the junior and youth age groups but he has the skills to make surprises at the light middleweight (71kg). The experienced John Nobel Marvin, the 2019 Asian Championships silver medallist, returned to the team last year. The 30-year-old heavyweight (92kg) boxer recovered from his nose injury in time to compete at the 1st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event.
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