Filipina boxer Aira Villegas opened Philippine boxing team’s 2024 Olympics campaign with a unanimous win over her Moroccan foe, leading to her advancement in the round 16 of the women’s 50 kilogram division.
The 2019 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist dominated Morocco's Yasmine Mouttaki on Monday (Manila time) in the Round of 32 bout.
Mouttaki came with a upper hand in the first round landing sharp hits with the Filipina contender.
Determined to win, Villegas confidently utilized strategic range while throwing punches in a close distance.
In a tough exchange, a heavy left punch sealed the victory of the 28-year-old Filipina eventually gaining 5-0 scores from the judges in the final round.
Villegas is set to face Algeria's bet Roumaysa Boualam in the next round scheduled on Friday morning (Manila time).
Meanwhile, fellow Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial will begin their bid in the women's 57 kg and men’s 80kg divisions, respectively on Tueday (Manila time).
