Special group of boxers for PHL in Olympics, says analyst

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter

THE four-man boxing group representing the Philippines within the sport within the Tokyo Olympics is a particular group which might determine within the combine for medals, mentioned an area battle analyst.

Eumir Felix Marcial (males’s middleweight), Irish Magno (girls’s flyweight), Nesthy Petecio (girls’s featherweight) and Carlo Paalam (males’s flyweight) are the boxers who shall be competing for the nation within the rescheduled Olympic Video games, taking place from July 23 to Aug. 8.

The 4 are among the many 19 Filipino athletes who want to give the Philippines its first-ever gold medal within the Video games.

For native battle analyst Nissi Icasiano, the nation’s boxing contingent for the Tokyo Olympics is a stable bunch.

“This can be a particular group. I consider this is without doubt one of the greatest ensembles of Filipino boxers ever assembled,” mentioned Mr. Icasiano in a web-based interview.

“Initially, we had been anticipating two representatives for boxing this Olympics. Nonetheless, the pandemic turned out to be a blessing because it opened spots for Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam. With that being mentioned, it’s the primary time since 2004 that we’ve 4 bets in a boxing occasion,” he added.

The analyst went on to say that among the many members of the Philippine boxing group, the now-professional Marcial is a favourite to go deep within the competitors though he’s not counting out the others.

“Out of the 4 boxers, Marcial is the favourite to land a podium end in Tokyo. His credentials converse for themselves, a runner-up in world championships, topped the qualifiers, and gained his professional debut — which is an added dose in his confidence heading to Tokyo,” he mentioned.

Including, “The advantage of being in Eumir’s place is that he already is aware of the extent of competitors and the kind of opponents he’s about to face within the Olympics. He already made 50 or 60 % of his scouting report by the world championships and the qualifiers.”

Mr. Paalam, for his half, could also be underneath the radar however has confirmed himself to flourish underneath such conditions, and, due to this fact, may be harmful.

“Carlo has been a darkish horse for essentially the most a part of his profession and has been profitable in that which is why pundits ought to by no means sleep on him,” Mr. Icasiano mentioned.

“Paalam is a kind of boxer who depends on mixtures to inflict the injury. When he pierces a stable jab, the follow-up is both a two-punch combo or a three-punch combo. Folks typically overlook this facet of his recreation. He’s a well-rounded boxer. He’s comfy combating whereas backpedaling. His footwork is a sight to behold as a result of he is aware of the right way to create angles and it’s restricted to 4 instructions,” the analyst added.

Mr. Icasiano mentioned Mses. Petecio and Magno may have a troublesome highway forward of them within the Olympics however he believes the boxers have it in them to rise as much as the problem.

“That is the debut of the ladies’s featherweight division within the Olympics. Like within the case of Carlo Paalam, Nesthy Petecio is in a gauntlet. It’s a bracket that takes the knockout stage actually. It’s a stacked division that consists of fine boxers. The advantage of it’s that Nesthy is one in all them. It’s a battle royale from the get-go,” the analyst mentioned.

“Irish Magno, for his half, is such an thrilling boxer. She has a fan-friendly type within the ring. Nonetheless, Irish Magno has a tall order in her marketing campaign. Although the rostrum finishers of the 2016 Video games in Rio gained’t be again in Tokyo, the bracket nonetheless holds a crop of top-notch expertise, and one in all them is Magno’s SEA Video games rival Jutamas Jitpong.”

In Tokyo, Ms. Petecio would be the first to start her marketing campaign on July 24 within the spherical of 32, adopted by Ms. Magno (July 25), Mr. Paalam and Mr. Marcial (July 26).