SEA Games: Nesthy Petecio outclasses Burmese foe for boxing gold

Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio celebrates after defeating Myanmar’s Oo Nwe Ni to claim the gold medal during the 30th South East Asian Games 2019 Women’s Featherweight (57 kg). INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon

MANILA, Philippines—Nesthy Petecio displayed her championship pedigree and hacked out a decisive win over Myanmar’s Oo Nwe Ni to capture the women’s boxing featherweight gold medal of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games Monday at PICC Forum.

The reigning Aiba World Champion was on target early in the fight, landing overhand rights down her Burmese foe’s temple in the first round.

Petecio, who won her first SEA Games gold medal, then turned methodical in the next two rounds and put the fight under control with her jabs and counters for the 5-0 unanimous decision win,

“At first I was nervous because she’s a tough opponent and this was a heavy fight for me because I was going to fight in the finals immediately,” said Petecio, who went straight to the finals after a bye, in Filipino.

“I just prayed to God that ‘Lord when I won the gold in the World Championships You were with me, I pray that You’re here with me again.’”