Bacyadan flaunts power, trounces first-round foe

Hergie Bacyadan is looking to wear the Philippine colors in the Paris Olympics. —HERGIE BACYADAN/INSTAGRAM

Hergie Bacyadan exactly knows the damage her fists are capable of executing, and she’s letting them fly in the ongoing World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.

Spain’s Dunia Martinez became the recipient of such explosiveness as Bacyadan completely demolished her in their women’s 75-kilogram opener on late Monday evening and came within two wins from earning a Paris Olympics berth.

“The coaches say that I have the power and I know I could go toe to toe with any boxer in my weight class,’’ said Bacyadan, who was recalled to the national team after shifting to vovinam two years ago where she eventually become the world champion in her division.

The 29-year-old middleweight from Kalinga hardly gave Martinez an opening, prompting the judges to unanimously see it for Bacyadan, 30-25, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in the Thai capital.

“But aside from power, the perfect timing of every punch is really important,’’ said Bacyadan.

The bronze medalist in the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships should be ready to maximize that advantage against Hungary’s Veronika Nakota on Saturday.Nakota, a former world youth champion, likewise advanced to the last 16 with a unanimous decision victory over Love Holgersson of Sweden.

“Hergie’s main [strength] is her power and she should set up her punches well,’’ said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines secretary general Marcus Manalo.

Bacyadan and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam (men’s 57 kg) remain in contention for an Olympic spot, both of them bidding to join early qualifiers Eumir Marcial (men’s 80 kg), Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57 kg) and Aira Villegas (women’s 50 kg).

Rogen Ladon (men’s 51 kg) and Criztian Pitt Laurente (men’s 63.5 kg) weren’t fortunate enough in their opening bouts and bowed out.

Paalam faces Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov next in the round of 32.

Bacyadan became the first Filipino world champion in vovinam, the Vietnamese indigenous combat sport, late last year. INQ