Petecio upends Aparri in boxoff

BURLY counterpuncher Nesthy Petecio nipped veteran Alice Kate Aparri yesterday, 8-5, to snag the Philippines’ lone 51-kilogram slot for a London Olympics qualifying event slated in China next month.

The 20-year-old Petecio frustrated the charging Aparri by connecting on the move in their boxoff held at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director Ed Picson asked sportswriters at ringside to score the bout. They also picked Petecio the winner via a 24-17.5 score.

“I can say that we have a very good chance with Nesthy,” said Picson. “She has the snap in her punches and throws a lot of punches. In this kind of scoring, you have to throw a lot of punches.”

With the score tied at 4-4 after three rounds, Davao del Sur’s Petecio scored at will in the final round to cruise to  victory. She earned the right to represent the country in the Aiba World Women’s Boxing Championships in Qinhuangdao, China, on May 9 to 20.

Petecio needs to only make the quarterfinals in China to secure a place in the London Olympics in July.

Only light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga has so far qualified for the Philippines in Olympics boxing.

“I told myself to be positive even if my knees were shaking at the start of the fight,” said Petecio in Filipino.

Aparri still made the trip to China to fight in the 54 kg along with Josie Gabuco (48 kg), a 20-8 winner over Irish Magno in an earlier bout.