MANILA – Ilongga amateur boxer Irish Magno booked a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, while the already Tokyo-bound Eumir Felix Marcial earned himself a shot for the gold medal in the 2020 Asia and Oceania Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament in Amman, Jordan.
The Iloilo City native-Magno, a 2019 Southeast Asian Games Silver Medalist, used her size and power to overwhelm Tajikistan’s Sumaiya Qosimova via a unanimous decision during their women’s flyweight division box off yesterday afternoon.
The Filipina was dominant since the opening round with solid hits that rattled the younger Qosimova. Her powerful blows then easily defeated the Tajik in the next two rounds.
“I am so very happy, and I made it because of my coach Boy Velasco. This is for you coach,” said Magno, who was relegated to the box off after losing to Indian Mary Kom in the quarterfinals on Monday night. On Tuesday evening, meanwhile, Marcial punched his way to the gold medal showoff of the men’s middleweight division of the tournament after a 4-1 victory over India’s Ashish Kumar in the semifinals bout.
The top-seeded Marcial was aggressive in the opening round. However, the rangy Kumar started to find his stride in the second frame, with his jab landing on the defense of the Filipino boxer.
Marcial, who is already off to the Tokyo Olympics after reaching the semifinals stage, will meet Kazakhstan’s Abilkhan Amankul in his final mission of the tournament.
Carlo Paalam, on the other hand, was denied the chance by the tournament to represent the flag and join Marcial and Magno in the Tokyo Olympics after a split decision defeat versus Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibbosinov in the flyweight division box off.
However, it is not time to say goodbye yet for Paalam, as he still has another shot in making it to the world’s biggest sporting event if he achieves what is required in the Global Qualifiers in Paris, France next month./PN
