The matchups are set as the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men's and women's boxing brackets have been determined.
The battle lines have been drawn.
Tokyo 2020 medalists Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam earned first-round byes as Aira Villegas will jumpstart Team Philippines’ Paris 2024 campaign following the results of the men’s and women’s boxing draw on Thursday, July 25.
Villegas will make her Olympic debut against Yasmin Mouttaki of Morocco in the round of 32 of the women’s -50kg event scheduled on Monday, July 29 at 3:04 a.m. (PH time).
[ALSO READ: T'was Tacloban toughness: A look back on Aira Villegas’ Paris 2024 journey]
Should the 28-year-old Villegas advance to the second round, she will then face Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria, a two-time gold medalist at the Pan-African Games.
Meanwhile, another debuting Filipina boxer, Hergie Bacdayan, faces a tall order in the women’s -75kg event after being drawn with multi-awarded boxer Li Qian of China for their round of 16 duel on Wednesday, July 31 at 6:04 p.m. (PH time).
[ALSO READ: Next Fight in Paris: Hergie Bacyadan's next bout finally fulfills Olympic dreams]
Li boasts of impressive credentials, winning an Olympic bronze in Rio de Janeiro and silver in Tokyo on top of gold medals in the Women’s World Boxing Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Amateur Boxing Championships.
If Bacyadan overcomes Li, she needs just one more win to guarantee herself of an Olympic medal as only eight women boxers are set to compete in the said weight class.
Furthermore, the last Filipina boxer in the squid in Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio begins her redemption arc against Jaismine Lamboria of India in the round of 32 of the women’s 57kg event set to be held on Tuesday, July 30 at 11:38 p.m. (PH time).
[ALSO READ: Golden mission for Nesthy Petecio in Paris 2024]
A win for the 32-year-old pugilist would then arrange a bout against hometown bet Amina Zidani of France in the round of 16.
On the other hand, Marcial is jumpstarting his bid to surpass his Tokyo 2020 bronze-medal finish against Turabek Khabibullaev of Uzbekistan in the Round of 16 of the men’s 80kg that is set to take place on Wednesday, July 31 at 2:32 a.m. (PH time).
[ALSO READ: Eyes on the prize: Eumir Marcial guns for golden finish in Paris]
Marcial is also on track for a potential rematch with Ukraine’s Oleksandr Khyzhniak three years after the Filipino settled for bronze following a split decision loss in their semifinal bout in Tokyo.
Paalam, another Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, moved up in weight and will take his turn after with a battle against Jude Gallagher of Ireland, also in the second round of men’s -57kg event 9:30 p.m. (PH time).
[ALSO READ: Gold on the horizon: Carlo Paalam continues quest for coveted Olympic glory]
Best of luck to our Pinoy boxers!