Petecio enters finals

By LITO DELOS REYES

DAVAO CITY (July 31) — Nesty “Nesh” Petecio of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur nipped a taller Irma “Butterfly” Testa of Italy to advance into the finals of the XXXII Olympic women’s featherweight (54-58kg) division today at the Kokugikan Arena in Japan.

Petecio had to fight harder in the last two rounds to earn the 29-28 scores from Judges Hichem Menchaoui, Tsogtgerel Tserenkhand, Pavlo Vasylynchuk, and Maksim Sulejmani.

Only Judge Manuel Vilarino saw it 29-28 in favor of Testa.

The victory arranged Petecio a championship match with Japan’s Sean Irie, who beat Great Britain’s Karriss Artingstall by a split decision in another semi-final match.

It also moved her closer to become the second Filipino gold medalist in Tokyo after weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz.

Petecio also makes her the first Filipino boxer to vie for the Olympic gold medal since Onyok Velasco at the 1996 Atlanta Games.

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