TOKYO Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio was scheduled to do battle along with four other Filipino boxers last night at the start of the 74th Strandja Cup, Europe’s oldest amateur boxing tournament, in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Petecio was set to open her campaign against Poland’s Sandra Kruk in the first round of the women’s featherweight division at 6 p.m. (1 a.m. today in Manila) at the 15,000-seat Arena Sofia in the Bulgarian capital that was the site of the 2020 FIBA Under-17 World Cup.
Also competing late yesterday were Paul Julyfer Bascon, Maricel dela Torre, Aira Villegas and Cleo Tesara in the meet serving as part of national team tryouts for the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games in May, according to boxing secretary general Marcus Manalo.
Bascon was to face Bulgarian veteran Tinko Banakov in the first round of the men’s lightweight (60kg) division, Dela Torre was to meet Poland’s Sandra Drabik in the women’s bantam (54kg) class, Villegas took on Argentina’s Milagros Tatiana Flores in the women’s light flyweight (50kg) division and Tesara clashed with Indian Srinisavan Kailavani in the minimumweight (49kg) category.
Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam was scheduled to fight Turkish Musaffer Enver later today in the first round of the men’s bantamweight (54kg) division while Marvin Tabamo drew an opening-round bye in the men’s flyweight (51kg) class and will face Serbian Omer Ametovic on Thursday.
Also competing today is featherweight (57kg) Junmilardo Ogayre, who was to face Ecuador’s Jean Caicedo, while James Palicte drew an opening-round bye in the crowded men’s light welterweight (63.5kg) division and will do battle in the second round tomorrow.
