More Olympic slots for ABAP?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 19 Mar 2024
Ricky Vargas.
ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas said yesterday he’s hoping for at least two more Olympic slots from boxing to add to the list of Paris entries Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas with Rogen Ladon, Carlo Paalam and Hergie Bacyadan tipped to vie for tickets at the final qualifiers in Bangkok on May 23-June 3. The lineup of fighters for Bangkok will be finalized next week with Mark Ashley Fajardo, Ronald Chavez, Jr., John Marvin, Claudine Veloso and Riza Pasuit under evaluation.
“Sana two more,” said Vargas. In the Tokyo Olympics, four boxers represented the Philippines with Marcial claiming a bronze, Paalam and Petecio a silver each and Irish Magno failing to land a podium finish. “Aira was a pleasant surprise and I believe Nesthy was a positive influence on her,” said Vargas. “Ladon, Paalam and Bacyadan will try again. Ladon is in a very competitive weight class (51kg) and just has to out-train and prepare.”
Although Villegas has never bagged a gold in the SEA Games, she was ready to claim a slot at the recent qualifiers in Busto Arsizio, Italy. Villegas, 28, booked a ticket in the 50kg division. “We nominated Aira as an Olympic Solidarity Scholar for this Olympic cycle,” said ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo. “We knew she had a very good chance of qualifying. Aira didn’t participate in the last two SEA Games. She missed Vietnam because we sent her to the World Championships instead for a higher level of competition. She was the only boxer we sent and reached the quarters, losing to the eventual gold medalist. Then, she missed Cambodia because she was not fully recovered from a hamstring injury. Then, she didn’t perform at her best at the Asian Games because of another injury. But we knew what she’s capable of accomplishing.”
Paalam was on the way to snag a Paris slot when he hurt his shoulder in a win over Mexico’s Andrey Bonilla and was forced to quit against Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov in his next match at the Italy qualifiers. “It’s an acromioclavicular joint injury, no tear, no fracture so he’ll be good to go for Bangkok,” said Manalo.
Marcial said he expects more to qualify for Paris. “Kita ko puspusan ang ensayo nila at ginagawa talaga ng ABAP ang lahat para mabigyan ng training needs sa lahat ng mga boxers,” he said. Marcial took a bronze in the 75kg middleweight class at the Tokyo Olympics. In Paris, the 75kg division has been scratched. Marcial moved up to the 80kg lightheavyweight category and punched his ticket to Paris with a silver at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR MEDINA VS. CURIEL IN MEXICO, PLUS MAIN EVENT QUOTES
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Rene Tellez Giron & Luis Torres Battle for Mexican Pride in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
Fri, 06 Feb 2026Gomera and Ding are set to clash for the WBC Asia 126 belt
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026“Thunderdome 53 is stacked and I cant wait to see these fights March 13 at Thunderdome 53 - Promoter Tony Tolj
Thu, 05 Feb 2026WORLD ELITE SUMO MAKES ITS PRUDENTIAL CENTER DEBUT ON SATURDAY, APRIL 18
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026