Villegas wins bout, enters next round

FILIPINA boxer Aira Villegas made an impressive Olympic debut as she outgunned Moroccan Yasmine Mouttaki for a unanimous decision win in the Paris Games women’s 50 kg round of 32 at the North Paris Arena on Monday (Manila time).

Villegas, who turns 29 on August 1, earned scores of 30-27 and four 29-28s from the five judges in the three-round bout.

First to see action in the Philippine five-athlete boxing delegation, Villegas will face Algerian Roumaysa Boualam in the round of 16 on August 2 at 2:16 a.m.

IMPRESSIVE START Aira Villegas (right) punches Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki in the women’s 50 kg preliminaries during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena in Villepinte on July 28, 2024. AFP PHOTO

Displaying foot speed and lateral movements, Villegas brought the fight to Mouttaki in the opening round and landed solid punches as she emerged the clear victor in the period.

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The 27-year-old Moutaki responded in the second round as she redeemed herself with aggression and connection, setting up a wild finish in the third frame.

Villegas and Mouttaki figured in a series of exciting exchanges but the Filipino did more than enough to win the bout.

The lefty Villegas unleashed a last-second left straight connection in what seemed like an indicator who was going to win the exciting fight.

Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio will be the second to fight for the Philippine team.

She will take on Indian Jaismine Lamboria in the women’s 57 kg round of 32 late Tuesday night, July 30 at 11:54 p.m.

The next day, Tokyo Games bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, first-time Olympian Hergie Bacyadan, and another Olympic silver medalist in Carlo Paalam will finally see action.

Marcial will lock horns with Uzbek Turabek Khabibullaev in the men’s 80 kg round of 16 at 3:04 a.m.

Both Marcial and Khabibullaev earned a bye each in the round of 32.

Bacyadan will make her Olympic debut in the women’s 75 kg round of 16 against Chinese Li Qian at 6:04 p.m.

Paalam will battle Irish Jude Gallagher in the men’s 57 kg round of 16 at 9:30 p.m.

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