Top boxers lead Philippine team for SEA Games

Filipina boxer Nesthy Petecio. —PH ASIAN GAMES MEDIA POOL

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will send out its big guns to defend home turf in the boxing competition of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.

World champion Nesthy Petecio will lead the women’s team while regional gold medalists Charly Suarez, Eumir Marcial, and John Marvin lead the men.

Carlo Paalam, a 2017 SEA Games bronze medalist, is the team’s competitor in the light flyweight division while 2018 Asian Games silver medalist Rogen Ladon is in the flyweight division.

Charly Suarez, a two-time SEA Games gold medalist, is the lightweight contender while Marjon Piañar will compete in the welterweight division.

FILE PHOTO: Filipino boxer Eumir Felix Marcial. Singapore SEA Games Organizing Committee /

Marcial, a silver medalist in the AIBA World Boxing Championship, will defend his spot atop the middleweight division while Marvin will do the same in the light heavyweight tournament.

Petecio, the featherweight queen in the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships, will lead the women’s national team.

2019 Asian Championships gold medalist Josie Gabuco will look to add a fifth SEA Games gold medal as she competes in the light flyweight division.

Gabuco is also a World champion when she ruled the light flyweight tournament in the 2012 AIBA Championships.

Irish Magno will compete in the flyweight division while Aira Villegas and Riza Pasuit are the competitors in the bantamweight and lightweight classes.

The national boxing teams were chosen after a four-day mini tournament at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex where the Filipino boxers faced off against each other, Laos’ SEA Games representatives, and the Australian national squad.