MANILA — Armed with four Olympic medalists, Philippine boxing is mounting one of its strongest bids yet to reclaim the top of the Asian Games podium and end a 16-year gold-medal drought when the 20th edition of the continental meet gets underway in Nagoya, Japan.
Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, Carlo Paalam and Eumir Marcial headline the seven-member national boxing squad tasked with delivering the Philippines its first Asiad boxing gold since Rey Saludar ruled the 52-kilogram division in Guangzhou, China in 2010.
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) president Marcus Manalo acknowledged the formidable challenge awaiting the Filipino fighters but said their experience and preparation give the team reason for optimism.
“We have seven boxers. It’s going to be a really tough task and the boxers know that. But I’m very excited for them,” Manalo said Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission media room.
Petecio will compete in the 60kg division, Villegas at 51kg and Paalam at 55kg, while Marcial is entered at 80kg.
Marcial’s participation, however, remains uncertain as he is scheduled for a professional bout in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, just two days before the Asian Games boxing competition begins.
ABAP hopes Marcial can emerge from the professional fight healthy enough to immediately travel from Los Angeles to Nagoya.
“We’re hoping that he will be fit to box and fresh after his pro fight so he can fly straight from Los Angeles to Nagoya,” Manalo said.
The possibility of Marcial missing the Asian Games has also complicated the Philippines’ options in the heavier division.
Weljon Mindoro, who could have been considered as Marcial’s replacement, was ruled out after suffering a knockout loss to a Mexican opponent in a professional bout in California last week.
Completing the Philippine squad are Riza Pasuit at 54kg, Junmilardo Ogayre at 60kg and Norlan Petecio at 70kg.
While the presence of four Olympic medalists strengthens the country’s medal prospects, Manalo conceded that their international reputations could also make them prime targets for their Asian rivals.
“We have our Olympic medalists but that could work for or against you because if you’re a competitor ‘yun ang gusto mo talunin eh. Pero ako, tataya pa din ako sa Olympic boxers,” he said.
The Filipino boxers recently completed a two-week training camp in Thailand alongside fighters from China, Jordan, Chinese Taipei and Japan.
“It was a productive camp in Thailand with teams like China, Jordan, Chinese-Taipei and the host country. The Japan camp will be shorter. Some sparring and mostly to acclimatize na lang,” Manalo said.
The team traveled to Nagoya Tuesday night for its final phase of preparation ahead of the Sept. 21 start of the boxing competition.
The Philippines’ prolonged gold-medal drought underscores the difficulty of competing against Asia’s boxing powers.
Since Saludar’s triumph in Guangzhou, Filipino fighters have managed three silver and five bronze medals in succeeding Asian Games editions but have been unable to return to the top of the podium.
“Zero gold na tayo in the past 16 years so maka-isa lang malaking bagay na to be at the top of the podium,” Manalo said.
The ABAP chief pointed to the Paris Olympics as evidence of Asia’s dominance in international boxing, with Asian countries accounting for nine of the 13 gold medals.
“If you look at the gold medalists in the Paris Olympics, 70 percent are from Asia. Yes, 70 percent,” Manalo said, citing Uzbekistan’s five gold medals, China’s three and Chinese Taipei’s one. “Mahirap talaga.”/PN
