Paris Olympics: Nesthy Petecio nears medal, beats French foe

The Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio (R) celebrates her victory over France’s Amina Zidani (L) at the end of their women’s 57kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on August 2, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

Nesthy Petecio pawed and measured Amina Zidani, trying to find a way inside the Frenchwoman’s defense in the first round.

“Be unpredictable, be unpredictable,” her corner urged her during the break.

She did exactly that.

LIVE UPDATES: Team Philippines at Paris Olympics 2024 August 3

Petecio cranked up the combinations in the second round to seize control of the bout against the No. 3 seed and then polished off a thrilling win early Saturday morning (Manila time) with a masterful display of power and control in the third to ease into the quarterfinals of the 57kg division of women’s boxing in the Paris Olympics 2024.

Petecio began landing solid rights in the second, at one point rocking Zidani in what appeared to be a knockdown ruled otherwise by the referee, to turn things around after a listless opening round at North Paris Arena.

The Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio (blue) fights France’s Amina Zidani in the women’s 57kg preliminaries round of 16 boxing match during the Paris Olympics 2024 at the North Paris Arena, in Villepinte on August 2, 2024. (Photo by MOHD RASFAN / AFP)

Zidani managed to send a packed crowd in delirious cheers as she thrived on counters against the smaller FIlipino, but Petecio remained relentless as she uncorked combinations that kept her in the medal hunt in the glamorous French capital.

READ: Paris Olympics: Nesthy Petecio advances to round-of-16 with dominant win

The Tokyo Olympiad silver medalist then opened the third with several flurries to hold tightly to the reins of the match. The ploy afforded Zidani good looks at counters but Petecio stayed ahead by winning the exchanges.

A win in her next fight will guarantee Petecio a bronze. The former world champion will next face China’s Xu Zichun, who won a split decision against Colombia’s Valeria Arboleda Mendoza in a later bout.

Petecio, who won close scores in four out of five judges’ cards, is one of three fighters still alive in Paris, along with Carlo Paalam and Aira Villegas.

The boxing squad has already lost Tokyo bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and Hergie Bacyadan, who both dropped their opening bouts.