NATIONAL women's boxing coach Nolito Velasco yesterday said the eight Filipino boxers are ready to rumble as the 18th Asian Games boxing competition begins today in Indonesia.
Velasco, in a Facebook interview with VoxPop Davao Thursday, August 23 said, "Ready to rumble napo mga boxers natin."
He said the team of former Davao City standout Nesthy Petecio, Irish Magno, Carlo Paalam, Eumir Felix Marcial, James Palicte, Joel Bacho, Mario Fernandez and Rogen Ladon are still undergoing light training since their arrival in Indonesia Wednesday.
"Bawas na ng load po kung dati isang oras ang training ngayon mga 40 to 45 minutes nalang pero high intensity, mabilisan na lagi ang ginagawa nila to maintain their weight," the veteran coach said.
He also said that the athletes will have to avoid salty, oily and sweet food for the entire duration of the quadriennial Games.
The draw to determine the pairing of boxers was still ongoing during the technical meeting of coaches as of yesterday presstime.
The Filipino boxers will try to improve the one silver medal and three bronzes that they brought home from the 17th Asian Games held in Incheon, Korea in 2014.
Barangay Una Boxing Gym of Panabo City products Charly Suarez and Mark Anthony Barriga then won a silver and a bronze, respectively.
Velasco added, "Lahat po ng makakatapat ng boxers natin malalakas walang mapagpipilian."
Petecio, who yesterday had a brief chat with weightlifting gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz at the Athletes' Village, also said that she is ready to compete and face anybody.
"Andam nako (I am ready)," Petecio, born in Barangay Tuba in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, told VoxPop Davao.
She won four titles this year in the 2nd Kapolri Cup Boxing Tournament Open in Manado, Indonesia; 10th International Boxing Tournament in Russia last May; 1st Indian Open International Boxing Tournament in February; and in the XXXV International Felis Stamm Tournament for Elite Men and Women in Warsaw, Poland in March.
