At A Glance
- Four Filipino fighters led by 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio downed their respective rivals to earn final berths in the 2024 Boxam Elite Tournament in La Nucia, Spain on Friday, Feb. 2.
Four Filipino fighters led by 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio downed their respective rivals to earn final berths in the 2024 Boxam Elite Tournament in La Nucia, Spain on Friday, Feb. 2.

The 31-year-old Petecio flashed her vintage form that forced Swiss foe Ana Marija Milisic to abandon the match in the second round in the women’s 57kg division.
The triumph not only assured Petecio a silver medal but also earned her a championship bout with Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiao-Wen, who dominated hometown bet Jenifer Fernandez Romero via unanimous decision.
Hergie Bacyadan also inched closer to the gold medal in the women’s 75kg after a 4-1 split decision over Mexican Citalli Ortiz.
Bacyadan,who is transitioning to boxing after competing in wushu and vovinam, set up a finals date with Kazakhstan’s Yerzhan Gulsaya, who prevailed over Eyed George, 4-0.
Aira Villegas also made heads turn in the women’s 50kg after crushing English foe Kelsey Oakley via split decision, 4-1, to arrange a gold-medal bout against Kazakhstan’s Kyzaibay Nazym, who clobbered Spaniard Laura Fuertez Fernandez via unanimous decision.
Also showing his might was Olympian Rogen Ladon, who escaped with a close 3-2 split decision over Mexican Ari Bonilla in the men’s 51kg. class.
Ladon, a world championship bronze medalist who saw action in the 2016 Rio Games, will face Istvan Szaka in the finals after the Hungarian scored a 4-1 split decision victory over Spain’s Martin Molina Salvador.
The tournament is part of the country’s buildup for Olympic qualification for the Paris Games.