Aira Villegas defeats Morocco's Mouttaki, advances to Round of 16 in Olympic boxing

Published July 29, 2024 3:55am

Paris 2024 Olympics - Boxing - Women's 50kg - Prelims - Round of 32 - North Paris Arena, Villepinte, France - July 28, 2024. Yasmine Mouttaki of Morocco in action against Aira Villegas of Philippines. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra /Cignal TV/One Sports

Aira Villegas opened Philippine boxing's campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics on a high note as she defeated Morocco's Yasmine Mouttaki via unanimous decision in the women's 50kg event on early Monday (Philippine time).

Villegas needed three rounds to get the judges' decision, 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 on the score cards.

The Filipino boxer recovered after quickly being down late in the third round but a big left from Villegas put the exclamation mark in the tough exchange.

Villegas will next face Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria in the Round of 16 on Friday.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News

Tags: Aira Villegas, Yasmine Mouttaki, 2024 Paris Olympics, Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics