NAY PYI TAW, Myanmar—Boxing, a consistent goldmine for the Philippines in the Southeast Asian Games, looks primed for another productive campaign in the 27th edition of the biennial meet here.
Light welterweight reigning titlist Dennis Galvan—one of four boxing gold medalists in the previous edition— outpointed Ratha Svay of Cambodia, 3-0, Sunday night.
Galvan’s triumph jacked up the number of Filipino boxers assured of bronze medals to eight at the Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex.
Except for Olympian Mark Barriga (light fly) and Junel Cantancio (lightweight), seven in the 10-man PH boxing team found themselves in the semifinals either by the luck of the draw or the lack of entries in their respective divisions.
Asian Games champion Rey Saludar drew a bye in the first round of the flyweight division, just like bantam Mario Fernandez and middleweight Wilfredo Lopez.
Flyweight Maricris Igam is already assured of a bronze without throwing a single punch. Irish Magno also moved into the semifinals of the bantamweight division due to a bye.
Light fly Josie Gabuco and Nesthy Petecio made the semifinals outright due to the lack of entries in their divisions.
Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson expects his wards to figure prominently in the overall race in boxing.
“We expect to be in the thick of it,” said Picson. “We have solid bets in Barriga, Lopez, Gabuco and Petecio. But others may pull off some surprises.”