PH boxers Gabuco, Petecio begin AIBA women’s boxing campaign

Former world champion Josie Gabuco and Nesthy Petecio went through a strenuous camp that everybody hopes to serve them well in the AIBA World Women’s Boxing Championships.

Gabuco, the flyweight titleholder back in 2012, will begin the quest to reclaim her throne tomorrow in New Delhi, India along with Petecio, a featherweight silver medalist in the 2014 edition of the worlds in Jeju, South Korea.

The 31-year-old Gabuco of Puerto Princesa City is a strong contender for the title with her blooming credentials on the international amateur scene that included four gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games.

Petecio, 26, has been raring to bounce back from a medal drought in the recent Asian Games in Jakarta following a string of victories in five different overseas tournaments early this year.

Joining the team are Irish Magno (51kg), Asian Gamer flyweight Aira Villegas and 19-year-old Carolyn Calungsod, the youngest in the group.

Magno participated in the world championships twice and this time the pride of Janiuay, Iloilo want to bring home the ultimate prize.

Villegas and Calungsod are likewise to benefit from the 10-day training camp that Filipino lady boxers had gone through on Nov. 3-12, also held in India.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas, who is also the head of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, has thrown his all-out support for the women’s team along with Abap secretary general Ed Picson.