Nesthy Petecio could've called it a career after winning the silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She's a two-time gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games. She won the gold medal in the featherweight division of the 2019 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships. And she's the first Pinay boxer to win an Olympic medal.
All of these opened doors to Nesthy Petecio, making her think of a life after her (amateur) boxing career. It made her reevaluate her plans. She decided to make another attempt to compete in the Olympics. Her impressive performance in the opening round was a good sign.
Petecio, a native of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, outfoxed Jaismine Lamboria of India last Wednesday, scoring a unanimous decision to advance to the round of 16. The Filipino is older and shorter than her younger and taller Indian opponent, but it was that wealth of experience of hers that gave the former the edge; Petecio bobbed and weaved to confuse Lamboria, who struggled to land any significant punch despite her advantage in height and reach. Petecio is aware that her draw would get tougher.
"Iba na po yung level ngayon," said Petecio. "Lahat sila malalakas po talaga. Alam kong ganun kadali yung pagdaanan ko ngayon sa Paris. Especially, iba siya sa Tokyo. Sa Tokyo, walang exposure halos, walang laro, puro training. Ngayon, open na. So hindi 'to basta-basta, na kami na yung mag go-gold."
"Kung may pinakamaliit pa na butas na pagdaraanan ko, mas liliit pa yung daan na andito. Kazakhstan, Italy, and Taipei [yung malalakas], pero hindi ko ina-underestimate yung ibang bansa kasi hindi ko pa sila nakikta talaga."
("It's a different level now," Petecio said. "They are all really strong. I know that it is so easy for me to pass in Paris. In Tokyo, there is almost no exposure, no games, only training. Now, it is open. So it is not something to be taken lightly , we are the ones to go gold."
"If there is even the smallest hole for me to go through, the road here will be even smaller. Kazakhstan, Italy, and Taipei [are strong], but I don't underestimate other countries because I haven't really met them yet.")
Petecio is undaunted, as her experience these past years made her stronger.
Petecio almost quitted boxing after that painful loss in the 2022 Asian Games. losing to Lin Yu-ting in the opening round. The Taiwanese boxer went on to win the gold medal in the women's 57 kilogram division. The Davaoeno admitted that the loss affected her such that she reevaluatedher priorities. It was the prospect of winning that elusive Olympic gold medal that made her change her mind. The gold will open more doors to her.
"Lagi kong nababanggit yung pagre-retire ko kasi aside sa marami akong injury, lalo na sa mata ko, pero siyempre, habang nagkaka edad tayo, mas nakikita natin kung gaano ka-ganda yung outside world. Parang nasa Pinoy Big Brother [PBB] na," she quipped.
"Lalo na after Tokyo, ang dami nang opportunity na dumating sa buhay ko."
"Ang daming mga pwede kong gawin, na hindi lang pala ako dapat sa comfort ko mag stay. Nag open yung Philippine Coast Guard, so mas nasabi ko na hindi pala pwedeng ituon ko lang yung buhay ko sa pagiging isang boxer."
("I always mention my retirement because aside from the many injuries I have, especially to my eyes, but of course, as we get older, we see more how beautiful the outside world is. It's like being in Pinoy Big Brother [PBB] already," she quipped.
"Especially after Tokyo, so many opportunities came into my life."
"There are so many things I can do, that I shouldn't just stay in my comfort zone. The Philippine Coast Guard opened up, so I said that I can't just focus my life on being a boxer.")
Petecio is a wily boxer, which she has shown in her opening bout. Is it good enough?
Gold: Karina Igragimova (Kazakhstan)
The veteran female boxer is missing a gold medal in the biggest sporting event. The Paris Olympics is her only chance.
Silver: Lin Yu-ling (Taiwan)
Lin Yu-ling competed in the Tokyo Olympics, losing to Petecio in the round of 16. Many boxing analysts believe that she can go farther in Paris.
Bronze: Nesthy Petecio (Philippines)
Nesthy Pecheco has a fighting chance against Karina Igragimova if the two would meet in the semifinals, but the Pinay boxer didn't participate in any major events after the Tokyo Olympic. It could hurt her chances. The bronze will be a bittersweet end to her boxing career, but she would be well rewarded.
Bronze: Alyssa Mendoza (USA)
A bronze medal would be a great start for Alyssa Mendoza. She could be a gold-medal contender in the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Nesthy Petecio's achievement should've made her a medal contender in the 57 kilogram division, but so much happened in this division after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Irma Testa of Italy won the gold medal in the 57 kilogram division of the 2023 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships. Petecio and Testa squared off in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. And the two boxers are likely to meet again in the final eight. If it happens, many boxing fans are leaning towards the Italian ace boxer. But we're rooting for Petecio. Her recent experience would show that she's hungry for another Olympic glory. (And it's interesting to note that Testa is unseeded.) Karina Igragimova stands in her way, though.
Igragimova is the bronze medalist at the 2022 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships. She won the silver at the 2023 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships. The Kazakh ace fighter is the prohibitive favorite in this division. Most fans see a gold-medal match between Lin Yu-ling and Karina Igragimova, and it would be interesting to see how the judges would look at this bout. The Taiwanese has a good chance of scoring an upset, so the Kazakh's impressive amateur career should play a factor.
Alyssa Mendoza is the youngest female boxer. She has to compete in two qualifying tournaments before punching her ticket to Paris. Her dramatic win over Mijgona Samadova of Tajikistan in the opening round caught the attention of many boxing fans. They cheered for the American during that bout, which should motivate the native of Boise, Idaho in her next bout against Jucielen Romeu of Brazil Romeu competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Your thoughts?
Nesthy Petecio will meet Amina Zidani of France on August 2. The winner of that bout will advance to the quarterfinals.
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