Four boxers will look to add to the Philippines' haul in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games when they compete in the gold medal matches of their respective divisions on Friday at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center in Bangkok.
Eumir Marcial, Flint Jara, Jay Brian Baricuatro and Aira Villegas are the last four Filipino boxers standing in Thailand, with other bets falling by the wayside -- some in controversial fashion.
Jara, Baricuatro and Villegas are fighting against Thai bets in the final – a huge hurdle that the boxers need to overcome, as the local boxers have been nothing short of dominant in Bangkok.
"Talagang paghahandaan namin kasi alam naman natin bukod sa magaling sila, talagang malalakas din ang mga judges nila," said Jara, who will be facing up against Thanarat Saengpet, a gold medalist in the 2023 SEA Games, albeit at a lower division.
Villegas is facing tough opponent in Chutamat Raksat, who bagged a silver in the 2022 Asian Games and a gold in the 2024 Asian Championships, while Baricuatro is locking horns with Phlongaurai Thitiwat, who stopped Khamsathone Khamphouvanh of Laos in the previous bout.
Marcial, on the other hand, will be gunning for gold against Indonesian Maikhel Muskita, who won the gold and the silver in the 2021 and 2023 editions of the games, respectively.
READ: Olympians Villegas, Marcial advance to gold medal matches
"He's a tough opponent, talagang kailangan natin pag-aralan ng husto, kailangan kundisyon 'yung katawan ko kasi malaki, matangkad at magaling din so 'di tayo puwede mag-kumpyansa," said Marcial
"Masasabi ko talaga na bakbakan kami sa finals, alam naman natin 'di basta-basta 'yung tinalo niya, tinalo niya 'yung host country kahit alam natin dito sa Bangkok kelangan i-knockdown mo 'yung kalaban mo pero nakuha niya pa rin 'yung impressive win," he added.
Six Filipino boxers have already settled for bronze medals: Weljon Mindoro, Ofelia Magno, Riza Pasuit, Hergie Bacyadan, Nesthy Petecio and Mark Ashley Fajardo.
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