Petecio thwarts Aparri, gains bid for Olympic slot

MANILA, Philippines - Nesthy Petecio is shedding off a lot of pounds to get a chance to compete in the coming London Olympics.

Her sacrifices paid off yesterday when she defeated two-time SEA Games gold medalist Alice Kate Aparri in a box-off at the ABAP gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Petecio’s 8-5 win gave her the right to represent the country in the 51 kg class of the AIBA World Women’s Championships in May in Qinhuangdao, China from May 9 to 20.

All she needs to do in Qinhuangdao is get to the quarterfinals and she’s going to London. It’s the first time women’s boxing will be staged in the Olympics.

“We have a very good chance with Nesthy,” said Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson after watching Petecio beat the seasoned Aparri.

There are only three weight classes in the women’s side in the Olympics, and the Philippines doesn’t have entries in the 60 kg and 75 kg divisions.

Aparri will join Petecio in the World Championships but only to compete in the 54 kg class where no Olympic slot is at stake.

Petecio, who won the 54 kg silver in the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia, said she was totally surprised when she was informed of the box-off for the 51 kg last Monday.

“The problem was that last Monday I weighed in at 57 kilos. So, I dropped down in weight. I hardly touched any food – part of the sacrifice,” she said in Filipino.

The Philippines will only have one entry in men’s boxing in London – lightfly Mark Anthony Barriga.

Petecio said she woke up yesterday at 52.9 kg and worked out for three straight hours at the gym, just in time for the official weigh-in and the box-off at 2 p.m.

The 20-year-old Petecio said she felt drained up in the ring, but gave her best against the 27-year-old Aparri, her senior in the women’s boxing team.

Still, she threw the better punches. The bout was tied at 4-4 after three rounds, and Petecio stepped on the gas in the final round to win at 8-5.

Aside from the five judges, members of the ABAP coaching staff and some members of the media were asked to score the bout, and in the end Petecio had the winning average, 24.0 to 17.5.

Since she’s now bound for China, Petecio said she will work harder in the days to come, and sees no problem making the weight limit of 51 kg.

“I’m happy I won the box-off. But I really felt weak starting in the second round. I felt my legs were shaking because the drastic weight loss,” she said.

“And I feel sorry for Kate, too,” Petecio added.