DR Congo’s Marcelat Sakobi Matshu (red) and Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio fight during their women’s feather (54-57kg) preliminaries boxing match during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo on July 24, 2021. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
TOKYO–Nesthy Petecio kicked off her golden bid with a unanimous decision victory over Congo’s Marcelat Sakobi Matshu in the Tokyo Olympics boxing competition on Saturday at Kokugikan Stadium here.
Petecio was in control the entire bout, stepping into the pocket against her taller opponent and landing clean shots to the head.
WATCH: Nesthy by unanimous decision! Our girl damn sharp. #Tokyo2020 #LabanPilipinas 🇵🇭💪🏼 | @ftjochoaINQ pic.twitter.com/IsPJpNXXCr
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) July 24, 2021
Petecio was never in trouble throughout the bout and handled the Congolese’s last-ditch flurry in the final round.
All five judges ruled the three-round match in favor of Petecio, the reigning world champion, who advances in the women’s featherweight (54-57 kilograms) division against Taiwanese world No. 1 Lin Yu-ting on Monday.
Philippine boxing head coach Don Abnett said he’ll take the win but felt Petecio could squeeze more out of herself.
“It was a scrappy performance,” Abnett said. “I felt she left some of her boxing skills in the dressing room.”
“She can do better,” he added. “But it’s better to win a scrappy fight than to lose a scrappy fight.”
