SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 61: NESTHY PETECIO AND AIRA VILLEGAS QUALIFY FOR PARIS OLYMPICS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 12 Mar 2024
Petecio (L) and Villegas (R).
Nesthy Petecio, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, is headed for another Olympics as she earned a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Petecio pounded Turkey’s Esra Yildiz Kahraman with devastating blows to the body to enter the women’s 57kg finals at the 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy.
* * *
“I am so blessed. This is very important for me because maybe this is my last Olympics," Petecio was quoted by olympics.com when she became the first female boxer to earn two consecutive Olympic slots. It was the only split decision win for Petecio in the qualifiers after she won her first four bouts by either via unanimous decision or stoppage.
* * *
Aira Villegas also booked an Olympic ticket with a unanimous decision victory over Bulgaria’s Zlatislava Chukanova in the women’s 50kg. Villegas was meted a point deduction in the second round and was knockdown in the third round but her hand speed and her consistent body shots got the approval of the judges.
* * *
Petecio and Villegas will join fellow boxer and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist Eumir Marcial in the Paris Games together with pole vaulter EJ Obiena and gymnasts Carlo Yulo and Aleah Finnegan.
* * *
“I got this ticket for so many people, especially my family, to God, and for our former President who died (past Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ed Picson), and for my partner in life,’’ said Petecio, the 2019 World Championships gold medalist.
* * *
Petecio lost the Olympic gold in Tokyo by unanimous decision in the finals to ferocious amateur rival Sena Irie of host Japan. "I will not stop until I get the Olympic gold medal,’’ declared Petecio as quoted by Rappler.
* * *
Tokyo Olympics men’s featherweight silver medalist Carlo Paalam, light welterweight Mark Ashely Fajardo and women’s middleweight Hergie Bacyadan still have a chance in the second and last Paris Olympics qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand from May 23 to June 3.
* * *
Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic finished with 35 points, 17 rebounds, 12 assists, 6 steals, and 2 blocks. Per Basketball Reference's StatHead, such stats had never been recorded in NBA history, making Jokic the first player to achieve it.
* * *
With the criteria of 35 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and 5 steals, Jokic would join Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Terry Cummings, and George McGinnis as the only four players in NBA history to post such figures.
* * *
Sports History: March 12, 1985. Larry Bird scores Boston Celtic record 60 points. Bird exploded for a career-best 60 points in a 126-115 win against the Atlanta Hawks. He was unstoppable and finished 22-for-36 from the floor. Bird, then 28, scored 32 of his 60 points over a 14-minute span in the second half.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 07 Mar 2026All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
Fri, 06 Mar 2026AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 06 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
Fri, 06 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
Fri, 06 Mar 2026International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 2026