Boxer Nesthy Petecio assures PH of podium finish after quarterfinals win

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio showed she can shift things and adjusted her attack in a more technical way to take down Colombia’s Yeni Marcela Arias Castaneda in the Women’s featherweight quarterfinals category of the Tokyo Olympics.

Regardless of the results in the upcoming semifinals of the Olympics, Petecio is already guaranteed with a sure bronze medal and a podium finish in the prestigious tournament.

It was one of those unlikely matchups for Petecio as the Colombian showed a different style of boxing inside the ring.

Castaneda would always force issues and brawled her way against Petecio the whole three rounds of the fight.

However, Petecio remained calm and scored the more efficient shots despite Castaneda as the aggressor in the duel.

Petecio then began to counter the Colombian’s style by using her head movements effectively and waited for openings to throw her vicious left hook each time Castaneda pressured her way to cut the distance.

The Colombian had some moments in the second round as she hit Petecio with several clean jabs but the Filipina would retaliate and answer back with her own shots.

Petecio received a unanimous decision victory and got the nod of all the five judges scoring on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Petecio’s fellow Filipina boxer, Irish Magno of Janiuay, Iloilo, is currently preparing for her Women’s flyweight Round of 16 clash against Jutamas Jitpong of Thailand.