Josel Sapitan

Despite her loss, Aira Villegas secured the Philippines' third medal, winning bronze as Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu advances to the finals in women’s 50 kg at Roland Garros Stadium on August 7 (Manila Time).

Photos Courtesy of Maye-E Wong/REUTERS.

The 29-year-old Filipina pug led the PH boxing campaign in the 2024 Paris Olympics as she obtained the bronze medal after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Cakiroglu distanced the unanimous decision score, 30-26, 30-26, 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, to seal the win.

“Hindi naman po ako super disappointed kasi ginawa ko ang best ko, aminado po ako na magaling talaga siya.”

Villegas seems to not yet have found the formula to beat Turkish bet Cakiroglu after she previously kicked off in the quarterfinals of IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships by unanimous decision in 2022.

The Philippines’ second female boxer to win an Olympics medal struggled to defend Cakiroglu's power attacks that targeted her head, which gave the reason to finish the first round on the side of Turkey.

Meanwhile, in the second round, Villegas managed to hit the chin of Cakiroglu using a right hook that made the boxer outbalance, but the referee's decision was just a slip.

The World No. 3 pug, Cakiroglu, continued to showcase her dominance, prevailing over Villegas in the last round to advance in the gold match against China's top foe, Wu Yu.

Villegas is the second-last boxer to stand in the Olympics, as she added the bronze medal to the PH tally to follow Carlos Yulo's two gold medals in gymnastics.

“Nakapag-uwi po ako ng medalya, sana po proud kayo sa akin,” in her exit in the Olympics.

Nesthy Petecio is secured to have one more medal to bring home, as she assured at least a bronze medal in the women’s 57 kg semi finals, facing Poland’s bet Julia Szeremeta on Thursday, August 8 (PH time).