Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio secure SEA Games boxing bronzes with semis berths

FILE-The Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio during the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / POOL / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines—Tokyo Olympics silver medalists Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio stamped their class and secured sure bronzes in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games at Chroy Changvar Convention Center: Hall G on Monday.

Petecio proved too much for Laos’ Minavanh Oupaxa in their women’s 57kg bout, needing only one round to advance to the semifinals.

It only took Petecio a minute and 20 seconds to connect on a huge left and force the referee stoppage.

FILE-Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Boxing – Men’s Flyweight – Semifinal – Kokugikan Arena – Tokyo, Japan – August 5, 2021. Carlo Paalam of the Philippines bows after his fight against Ryomei Tanaka of Japan REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino

Paalam also delivered a masterclass in the men’s 54kg quarterfinals, cruising past Malaysia’s Daeloniel Delon Bong, 5-0.

All five judges scored identical 30-27 cards in favor of Paalam.

Joining Petecio and Paalam in the semis is Paul Julyfer Bascon, who beat Vietnam’s Thanh Dat Vu, 4-1.

Mark Lester Durens, however, failed to advance to the men’s 48kg semifinals after faltering to Indonesia’s Dio Koebanu by unanimous decision.