Nesthy Petecio has assured the Philippines its second medal in boxing in the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeating China’s Xu Zichun via unanimous decision to advance to the semifinals of the women’s 57kg at the North Paris Arena on Sunday, Aug. 4.

The veteran pug showed the power and precision that made her the silver medalist in the Tokyo edition, shrugging off her Chinese foe's height and reach advantage, and unloading perfectly timed counters to assure herself at least a bronze medal finish.

Petecio was masterful in the first two rounds, catching the Chinese with her overhand and counter left. The Filipina padded the lead with more combinations to the head of Xu before the Chinese tried to catch up in the third with more aggression.

Her efforts, however, went futile in the end as Petecio simply had answers to her every hit.

It was already the second assured bronze for the Philippine boxing contingent after Aira Villegas also advanced to the semifinals of her own event. 

Petecio, for her part, is now one win away from tying her silver finish in the last edition and two wins away from completing her bid for a golden redemption tour.