Olympic medalists Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio, Aira Villegas banner PH boxing in 2025 SEA Games

The Philippine boxing team is going all out at next month’s 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, sending some of its top boxers in a bid to maintain the country’s dominance in the sport.

Eumir Marcial, an Olympic bronze medalist, will have a chance to extend a streak of gold medals in the games, marking his return to the biennial meet after missing the previous edition due to injury.

The 30-year-old ace will spearhead the country's boxing delegation alongside fellow professional pug Weljon Mindoro as the Philippines hopes to continue producing medals in the regional tournament.

Marcial, who had won four straight gold medals since 2015 before skipping the 2023 edition in Cambodia, will compete in the men’s 80kg, while Mindoro, who holds an impressive 15-0-1 win-loss-draw record with 15 knockout, will compete in the men’s 75kg class.

Completing the men's delegation are Jay Bryan Barquarto in 48kg, Marvin Tabamo in 51kg, Flint Jara in 54kg, Ian Clark Bautista in 57kg, and Junmilardo Ogayre in 60kg.

Meanwhile, two-time Olympic medalist Nesthy Petecio and Olympic bronze medalist Aira Villegas will spearhead the women's team as they compete at the 60kg and 50kg, respectively. 

They will be joined by Ofelia Magno in 48kg, Risa Pasuit in 57kg, and another Olympian in Hergie Bacyadan in 70kg.

In the 2023 SEA Games, the country placed second in the medal tally of boxing with four golds, five silvers, and one bronze. Petecio, Bautista, Paul Bascon, and Carlo Paalam all claimed the top plum while Thailand bagged the most gold with nine.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News