Filipino Olympic Hopefuls Set Sights on LA 2028

Photo courtesy of Philstar

Philippine boxing is looking forward to a strong showing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics with prominent athletes like Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas, and Eumir Marcial preparing for a final shot at glory. This announcement follows Paalam's impressive victory at the Eindhoven Box Cup in the Netherlands, where he defeated 2024 Paris silver medalist Billal Bennama of France in a tight semi-final bout, winning by split decision.

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Paalam is joined by Petecio, Villegas, and Marcial, all Olympic medalists aiming for another chance at Olympic success. Petecio, a silver and bronze medalist, is returning from injuries, while Villegas and Marcial, both bronze winners, are reportedly in excellent condition as they train in Baguio. The four athletes are also contenders for the Philippine team at the upcoming Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, scheduled for September.

The main concern for Marcial is his professional commitments, notably his aim to be part of the undercard for the anticipated Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, which may coincide with the Asian Games. Meanwhile, the national team has shown strong performance recently, securing four gold medals during their European tour, which included victories by Paalam, Clark Vicera, and Riza Pasuit in prestigious tournaments.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Philstar · 28 May 2026