Two Filipino boxers showcased their skills and determination as they kicked off their campaign at the World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on Sunday, March 3 (Monday, March 4, Manila time), taking significant steps towards securing a spot at the Paris Olympics.

Nesthy Petecio and Rogen Ladon delivered impressive performances in their opening bouts, edging closer to joining fellow Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial, who has already qualified for the Paris Games.

Petecio, a silver medalist in the Tokyo Olympics, made a statement with a dominant first-round stoppage victory over Serbia’s Andela Brankovic in the women’s 57kg preliminaries. The Moroccan referee halted the fight with a minute remaining in the opening round, as Petecio showcased her skill and determination in the ring.

With her sights set on a Paris berth, Petecio will face Romania’s Maria Claudia Nechita in the next round on Thursday, March 7, aiming to secure her spot in the final.

Meanwhile, Ladon took a significant step towards an Olympic return with a hard-fought 4-1 split decision victory over Italy’s Federico Emilio Serra in the men’s 51kg category. Ladon’s impressive performance earned him the nod of four judges, moving him closer to his Olympic aspirations.

Unlike Petecio, Ladon only needs to reach the semifinals to secure his spot in Paris. He is set to face Morocco’s Said Mortaji in the next round on Wednesday, March 6, as he continues his quest for Olympic qualification.

While Petecio and Ladon celebrated their victories, Riza Pasuit faced disappointment as she suffered an early exit from the tournament. Pasuit fell to Venezuela’s Krisandy Rios via unanimous decision in the women’s 60kg division, ending her bid for Olympic qualification.