Petecio bows to Thai pug, takes silver

MANILA, Philippines - Nesthy Petecio dropped a split decision to Thai Peamwilai Laopeam, settling for a silver medal in the ASBC Women’s Boxing Championships at the Wulanchabu Sports Gymnasium in Wulanchabu, China Thursday.

Two judges, from Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, gave the Thai girl three rounds and Petecio one, for similar 39-37 cards. The third judge, from host country China, gave it to Petecio, also at 39-37.

It was a sorry setback for Petecio, who practically fought half-blind after she was hit by Laopeam’s wayward elbow early in the third round. But the judges ruled it a legal blow and gave the round to the 31-year-old, four-time SEA Games champion.

“I really felt Nesthy did enough to win it. And she was fighting half-blind in the last two rounds, but you wouldn’t have known it judging from the way she fought. But we accept the decision, it was kind of a close fight anyway,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson.

The dusky Filipina fighter, the only PLDT-ABAP survivor after teammates Josie Gabuco, Irish Magno and Riza Pasuit bowed out early in the tournament, asserted herself in the early going, gaining the edge in several exchanges and taking the first round on two of the three judges’ scorecards. 

The Thai countered in the second but Petecio seemed to have delivered the heavier blows early in the third round that also saw Laopeam miss with a left hook,  her elbow hitting the Filipina in the right eye in the process.

“I really felt the force of the elbow and for several seconds, I could hardly see through my right eye,” said the 23-year-old Davaoeña. 

Petecio tried to switch to an orthodox style from a southpaw stance to be able to see her opponent well. But despite connecting with her counters, the Filipina still failed to impress the judges.  

The team’s coaches were Roel Velasco and Mitchel Martinez.