Mark Ashley Fajardo and Ofelia Magno delivered strong performances to kick off the Philippines’ boxing campaign at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok, Thailand, keeping the nation’s medal hopes alive.
However, Ian Clark Bautista’s bid for a fourth gold in the biennial meet came to an early and controversial end.
Fajardo showcased his skill and composure against a taller Nguyen Duc Ngoc of Vietnam in the men’s welterweight (69 kg) Round of 16.
Undeterred by his opponent’s reach, Fajardo dominated the bout and secured a 5-0 unanimous decision.
The 20-year-old Cebuano now advances to the quarterfinals, where he will face Indonesia’s Jerki Riwu, who enters the fight fresh after a bye in the opening round. A podium finish is within reach for Fajardo.
In the women’s light flyweight (48 kg) division, Ofelia Magno overcame early jitters before settling into her rhythm to outbox Myanmar’s Aye Nyein Htoo.
Magno’s composure from the second round onwards earned her a 4-1 split decision, setting up a quarterfinal clash against Vietnam’s Ngô Ngọc Linh Chi, who defeated Indonesia’s Merlin Tomatala in the Round of 16.
The Philippines’ campaign, however, suffered a setback as defending SEA Games featherweight (57 kg) champion and three-time gold medalist Bautista saw his run cut short.
The 31-year-old veteran fell to Thailand’s Sarawut Sukthet, who outmaneuvered and controlled the bout en route to a unanimous decision victory, ending the Filipino’s bid for a fourth gold.
