MANILA, Philippines — Filipino boxer Nesthy Petecio on Tuesday, 15 October 2019, confided to CURRENT PH her self-confidence allowed her to clinch the rare gold medal Sunday (12 October 2019) in the 2019 AIBA Women’s Boxing World Championships un Ulan-Ude, Russia.

Petecio bested homegrown talent Liudmila Vorontsove in the finals of the prestigious world boxing conclave.

She defeated in the semis England’s Karris Artingstall who thrashed her Russian rival in the women’s featherweight class notwithstanding hometown advantage.

Together with teammates, Petecio said they are due to come back home at 4:25 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, 16 October 2019, via Cebu Pacific.

They were in Qatar midnight Tuesday for a short stopover from Russia said Petecio, a 3-time Southeast Asian Games silver medalist who mustered five other opponents before setting up her finals tiff with Vorontsove.

Petecio came away with clinical jabs in her finals tiff with Vorontsove, delivering solid blows but she settled for a split decision on scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.

Nevertheless, Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas was supremely elated with the result as the five-man team are coming home the proverbial bacon.

“Nesthy deserved the win not only because she fought brilliantly, but also because she sacrificed so much for this,” said Vargas who also praised coaches Boy Velasco and Reynaldo Galido for a job well done.

After her brilliant show in Russia, Petecio said she is now focusing to again annex the gold in 30^th Southeast Asian Games which is set to unfold November 30, 2019.

Petecio first hurdled Jucielen Romeu of Brazil and then Stanimira Petrova, China’s Qiao Jieru in the last 16.

After that, she again prevailed Sena Irie of Japan and then Artingstall in the silver medal match. (Ismael Amigo/CNS)