MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will not have a female boxer at the 2016 Summer Olympics after Nesthy Petecio dropped a split-decision to Morocco's Zohra Ez Zahraoui on day 3 of the 2016 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan Saturday, May 21.
Petecio, who emerged as the Philippines' top female following box-offs with Josie Gabuco and Irish Magno for the spot in the Olympic flyweight category, was awarded a 40-35 decision by one judge while the other two scored it even 38-38. As a draw does not fit in a tournament format, the two judges had to pick a winner and picked the Moroccan.
One judge scored the third round 10-8 for Petecio, 24, of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, possibly signifying that the 2014 AIBA World featherweight silver medalist was particularly dominant in that round, according to ABAP Executive Director Ed Picson.
The Philippines now has just one female remaining in the tournament, 2012 light flyweight World champion Gabuco, who defeated Sevda Asenova of Bulgaria by split decision to advance in the junior flyweight competition. Gabuco will next face Volha Lushchyk of Belarus on Sunday.
Magno, a natural flyweight competing in the featherweight division, lost a decision to Bolortuul Tumurkhuyag on Friday.
The Philippines has two boxers qualified for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil so far, with light flyweight Rogen Ladon and lightweight Charly Suarez already in. The Philippines will send "at least 3" boxers to the Final Olympic Qualifier in Baku, Azerbaijan, which takes place June 16 to 25, Picson tells Rappler.
Bantamweight Mario Fernandez and welterweight Eumir Marcial will compete, with either Ian Clark Bautista or Roldan Boncales competing in the flyweight division.
While men's Olympic boxing has 10 categories, the women only have 3 categories (flyweight, lightweight and middleweight) since women's boxing became an Olympic event in 2012. – Rappler.com