Three boxers aim for finals

MANILA, Philippines —   It’s make or break for boxers Eumir Marcial, Aira Villegas and Weljon Mindoro as they see action today in the semifinals for the chance to go for gold at the SEA Games in Bangkok. The three drew byes in the quarterfinals and booked outright tickets to the semifinals so it will be their first appearance in the ongoing competitions. They’re assured of a bronze but that’s not what’s on their minds.

Marcial will battle Vietnam’s Nguyen Manh Cuong in lightheavyweight 80kg while Mindoro takes on another Vietnamese Bui Phuoc Tung in middleweight 75kg. Villegas is up against Myanmar’s Mya Moe Thu in women’s flyweight 50kg.

Marcial, a two-time Olympian, fought in middleweight 75kg in Tokyo to bag the bronze then went up to 80kg in Paris, losing in the round of 16 to finish out of the podium. He’s shooting for his fifth SEA Games gold after winning in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. Marcial, 30, is taking a break from rhe pros to answer the country’s call. His pro record is 7-0 with 4 KOs. If Marcial beats Nguyen, he’ll vie for gold against the winner of the other semifinal between Thailand’s Jakkapong Yomkhot and Indonesia’s Maikhel Roberrd Muskita. Marcial knocked out Nguyen at the 2019 SEA Games and outpointed him at the 2022 Asiad so they’re familiar foes.

Villegas, 30, has never struck gold at the SEA Games and was third in 2019. She claimed a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 50kg division. At the 2023 SEA Games, Mya campaigned in featherweight 57kg and settled for bronze. If Villegas overcomes Mya, she moves to the final against the winner of the other semifinal between Thailand’s Chuthamat Raksat and Indonesia’s Israellah Athena Bonita Saweho.

Mindoro, 25, has a pro record of 16-0-1, with 16 KOs, including a fight for the vacant IBA Asia middleweight title. He boxed as an amateur in Batang Pinoy and Palarong Pambansa but never at the international level. Mindoro was encouraged by Marcial, a fellow Zamboangueno, to try his luck in the SEA Games. His opponent Tung fought in lightmiddleweight 71kg at the 2022 Asian Games where he was knocked out by India’s Nishant Dev in the Round of 16. A win over Tung will advance Mindoro to the final against the survivor of the other semifinal between Thailand’s Weerapon Jongjoho and Timor Leste’s Francisco Morati Gaspar da Costa.