Pros Marcial, Mindoro, Olympic medalists Petecio, Villegas headline PH boxers in SEAG

November 23 ------ Undefeated professional boxers Weljon Mindoro and Eumir Marcial along with Paris Olympics medalists Aira Villegas and Nesthy Petecio headline a 13-strong PH boxing team to the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) unveiled the roster in a press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at the Sentro 1771 in Pasig City. “We have a total of 13 boxers, seven men and six women. Iyon din iyong maximum number na pwede nating salihan sa SEA Games so we are sending a full lineup,” said ABAP Secretary General Marcus Manalo.

Joining Manalo were POC president Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino and secretary general Atty. Warton Chan along with both Marcial and Mindoro.

Marcial will be fighting at his Olympic weight in the men’s 80kg division while Mindoro will be participating in the 75kg division.

Both pugs are already fighting professionally and have been undefeated in the middleweight division with Mindoro packing a 15-0-1 record, all victories by knockout, while Marcial boasting a clean 7-0 slate. With the two in the men’s team are Jay Bryan Baricuatro (48kg), Marvin Tabamo (51kg), Flint Jara (54kg), Ian Clark Bautista (57kg) and Junmilardo Ogayre (60kg).

On the distaff side, Paris Olympics bronze medalists Petecio and Villegas will be leading the charge alongside fellow Olympian Hergie Bacyadan. A two-time Olympic medalist, hopes are high for Petecio to land on the podium in the women’s 60kg division while the same expectations are also on the shoulders of Villegas, who will be fighting in the 50kg division, and Bacyadan, who will be in the 70kg.

Ofelia Magno (48kg), Claudine Veloso (54kg) and Riza Pasuit (57kg) rounded out the women’s team.

According to Manalo, the local organizing committee has limited the number of divisions a county can participate in that’s why the PH boxing team is only competing in the 13 of the 17 weight divisions. “We are limited to participating in just seven out of nine weight classes sa men’s boxing. Limited by the local organizing committee, by the host country, just like I heard in the other sports also. While on the women’s side, we will be participating in six of the eight weight classes,” explained Manalo.

Source: mb.com.ph