Islay Bomogao of the Philippines in action against Mai Hoang Khanh of Vietnam in the semis of the women's -45kg division of Muay in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, December 16, 2025 at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand. POC Media
Islay Bomogao and two other Philippine Muay Thai bets, Tyron Jamborillo and LJ Rafael Yasay, scored big wins in the semifinals on Tuesday and advanced to the finals of the discipline in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
Bomogao, competing in the women's -45kg division, was stunned when her opponent, Mai Hoang Khanh of Vietnam, forfeited the match after two rounds at the Lumpinee Boxing Stadium.
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The two fighters engaged in a tough combat in the first two rounds, with the judges giving Bomogao a 20-18 lead going into the final round.
But the Vietnamese fighter's camp did not agree with the scoring, threw a water bottle into the ring and the fighter and her corner walked out of the venue.
Bomogao was pronounced the winner and qualified for the final on Wednesday, December 17.
Although surprised by what happened, Bomogao said she was happy with the result, adding this would give her more time to recover before fighting in the final against home bet Arissara Noon-Eiad.
"First round binigay po sa akin, second round binigay sa akin, so pagdating ng third round, di ko pa alam 'yung nangyayari. Nag-forfeit po ata y'ung kalaban." said Bomogao. "Syempre, masaya po kasi hindi na ko magti-third round pero na-confuse po ako, bakit."
Jamborillo won all three rounds against Myat Moe Saw of Myanmar in the men's 45kg division while LJ Rafael Yasay beat Thailand's Chalongchai Minindi, two rounds to one.
Other matches saw Floryvic Montero bagging the bronze after falling in her semifinal match in the women's 51kg against Malaysia's Nur Amisha Binti Azrilrizal while
Mathew Blane Comicho also settled for the bronze after being knocked out in the second round byThailand's Abdolmalek Thingnamrob.
Earlier in the day, Bomogao and Philllip Delarmino also netted two bronze medals in the female and male senior Wai Kru events to add to the team's haul.