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:
Jayson Mama Set to Challenge for IBO World Super Flyweight Title in Johannesburg
Sat, 17 May 2025Fisher vs Allen 2: Can Johnny Make Necessary Improvements?
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 17 May 2025Weights from Panamá City
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 17 May 2025CRUZ LANDS IBF ELIMINATOR AGAINST MISHIRO IN NEW YORK
Sat, 17 May 2025Fisher and Allen Hit the Scales Ahead of Highly Anticipated Heavyweight Rematch
Sat, 17 May 2025Boxing: Sport Entertainment or Entertainment Sport (Part Two)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 16 May 2025NYC PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES: BERLANGA VS. SHEERAZ / SHAKUR STEVENSON VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME TRAINER FREDDIE ROACH TO BE HONORED BY THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES IN PUBLIC CEREMONY AT FREDDIE'S GYM!
Fri, 16 May 2025HALL OF FAME BROADCASTER JIM LAMPLEY TO PARTICIPATE IN 2025 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND FESTIVITIES
Fri, 16 May 2025Minnesota, Indiana Back Again in the Eastern and Western Conference Finals
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 15 May 2025In Jonathan’s memory
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 15 May 2025WATCH: HITCHINS AND KAMBOSOS JR IN INTENSE FACE-OFF WITH ONE MONTH UNTIL NYC SHOWDOWN
Thu, 15 May 2025Toledo-Xignex Trojans finally win the PCAP online team chess tournament
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 15 May 2025Former WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Nazarena Romero to Exercise Immediate Rematch Clause Against Mayelli Flores Rosquero
Thu, 15 May 2025Pacquiao's Controversial WBC Ranking Explained: "Legend" Status Cited Amid July Return
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 15 May 2025