The first Filipino boxer to step into the ring got the Philippines off to a winning start in the 20th Asian Games.
Norlan Petecio defeated Cambodia’s Vy Sophors via unanimous decision in the preliminary round of the men’s 70kg boxing division on Monday at the Nishio Gymnasium in Nishio City.
The 24-year-old Petecio used his length to his advantage, constantly moving around the ring to keep his opponent at bay while punishing him with body shots whenever Sophors tried to close the distance.
Petecio dominated the scorecards of all five judges in the first two rounds, earning a clean sweep in both frames.
Sophors, a professional boxer with a 2-0 record, stepped up his attack in the final round in a last-ditch effort to turn the fight around. He managed to convince one judge to score the round in his favor, but the other four once again gave the nod to Petecio, who maintained superior ring control and generalship.
Petecio now needs two more victories to reach the semifinals and secure a medal.
Five more Filipino boxers are set to see action in the coming days: Norlan’s older sister, Nesthy Petecio; Aira Villegas; Carlo Paalam; Riza Pasuit; and Junmilardo Ogayre.
Nesthy, Villegas, and Paalam are all former Olympic medalists and among the Philippines’ leading hopes of improving on its boxing haul from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, where Eumir Marcial won the country’s lone medal in the sport — a silver.
