FILE—Korea’s Choe Sangdon (right) fights with Philippines’ Ian Clark Bautista in the men’s boxing fly weight 52 kg preliminary session 8 at Seonhak Gymnasium during the 17th Asian Games in Incheon on Sept. 27, 2014. AFP PHOTO/PRAKASH SINGH
The Philippines attempts to throw two final punches for the Rio Olympics starting Friday.
Flyweight Ian Clark Bautista and welterweight Eumir Felix Marcial go for the last remaining tickets to Brazil when they wage battle in the Aiba (international boxing federation) World Qualifying Event at Sarhadchi Stadium in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Bautista, who hails from Binalbagan Negros Occidental, was to fight Spaniard Jose Kevin dela Nieve Linares in his first match late Friday.
Marcial, who like Bautista is reigning Southeast Asian Games champ, is top seeding his division. He took a bye and will take on in the second round Abbas Baraou of Germany on Saturday.