PARIS – First, there was a bouquet of flowers that looked very royal, then a small but delectable chocolate cake followed.

In the tradition of the Filipinos, flowers and cake are perfect combo.

Boxer Aira Villegas was flattered to receive such gifts but what made her 29th birthday complete and  worth remembering was her masterclass performance over the second seeded Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria in the women’s 50kg class that tantalizingly pushed her closer to the medal round in the Paris Olympics on Thursday, Aug. 1, at the North Paris Arena inside the Villepinte Exhibition Centre in Seine-saimt-Denis.

“I am proud of myself, this is the best gift I received even for a younger me and to my future,” said Villegas with a chuckle. “I am going to remember this for the rest of my life.”

And like Carlo Paalam, another win for Villegas would mean a sure bronze medal. 

It was one unique moment that even a foreign journalist went to the Mixed Zone – a place where athletes are interviewed – to greet and congratulate Villegas after he heard several groups of Filipinos singing “Happy Birthday” near the end of the third and final round.

“You’re fantastic,” he said to Villegas, who earned a unanimous decision to advance to the quarterfinals.

Two judges scored it 30-27 while the three others had it 29-28 – all for Villegas.

Problem is, Villegas’ quarterfinal opponent is local bet Wassila Lkhadiri, who pulled off a 4-1 split decision over Ireland’s Daina Moorehouse in a contest that could go either way.

The verdict, however, was slammed by the Irish coaching staff, alleging they got raw deal from the five judges.

Having studied the movements of Boualam, not to mention having sparred with her during a training camp Germany last month, Villegas started as hot as the weather outside, tagging her with vicious blows to body and head.

Though the Algerian managed to connect in the second round, Villegas, upon the prodding of her coaches, re-applied the hit-and-run tactic – the same formula she used in the opening. 

“Open parati siya sa katawan, so dun ako umatake ng husto, parang hit and run, ang ginawa ko,” said Villegas who wowed the crowd with her brilliant footwork that caught the Tokyo Games veteran by surprise.

The twice champion in the African Games tried to intensify her attack in the third but Villegas was not only ready to defend but also prepared to fire howitzers that all but disarmed Boualam.

Actually, even before the first bell, Villegas strongly felt she was already a winner the moment the PH flag appeared on the giant monitor.

“Nang lumabas ang PH flag, sabi ko sa sarili ko ‘akin to’ so talaga nag-focused ako. Sa tulong ng mga coaches ko, nagawa ko naman ang lahat ng preparasyon naming,” said Villegas.

On Villegas facing a local bet, Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino has called on all Filipinos to pray for fair judgement.

“Let’s pray for better judgment,” said Tolentino.