Filipino bantamweight Mario Fernandez will have to take the longer route to Rio after losing to Chatchai Butdee of Thailand, 27-30, 27-30, 27-30, Thursday in the Asian Oceanian Qualification of the International Boxing Association (Aiba) in China.
Butdee, who was the No. 2 ranked bantamweight, nabbed a spot in the 2016 Summer Games by virtue of the win while Fernandez will have to win the bronze medal to make the cut.
Fernandez entered the Olympic qualifier as an unseeded fighter.
Fellow Filipino Rogen Ladon has advanced to the Olympics after his semifinal win over Indian Devendro Singh Laishram in the light flyweight division.
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