Nesthy Petecio is the most decorated Filipino in women’s boxing history, having won a medal at practically every major international competition except the Asian Games.
The two-time Olympic medalist, however, found herself outworked by China’s Yang Chengyu, who scored a unanimous decision victory in their quarterfinal clash in the women’s 60kg division of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 at Nishio Gymnasium in Nishio City.
Yang came into the bout with an impressive résumé, having won gold at the 2023 World Championships and bronze in 2025. She also had a natural size advantage, competing in her regular weight division while Petecio had moved up from the 57kg class.
Petecio, a former world champion and Olympic silver medalist, tried to make up for the size difference by looking for big punches that could turn the fight in her favor.
But Yang’s work rate proved both efficient and effective.
The Chinese boxer answered nearly every power shot from Petecio with quick flurries, allowing her to secure a shutout across all three rounds on every judge’s scorecard.
The defeat marked the fourth Asian Games in which Petecio, now 34, fell short of reaching the medal round.
