Philippine boxing regained its footing Saturday, December 13, at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games as Flint Jara battled through adversity to secure a morale-boosting win in Bangkok. His victory came hours after Olympian Nesthy Petecio suffered a stunning early exit that jolted the national team.

Competing at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center, Jara edged Indonesia’s Flanuari Yerikho Daud via a tense 3-2 decision. The win pushed him into the semifinals of the men’s 54-kilogram division and steadied Team Philippines after a difficult start to the day.

Jara opened cautiously and dropped the first round before the bout escalated into a punishing exchange. The Filipino boxer refused to retreat as the fight intensified round after round.

Jara survives scare, pushes through

A second-round clash of heads opened a cut above Jara’s left eyebrow, forcing a brief stoppage for medical inspection. Cleared by the ring physician, he returned undeterred and immediately pressed the action.

Jara stayed aggressive through the final rounds, landing sharper counters during heated exchanges. His ability to adjust after a slow start proved decisive as the judges narrowly ruled in his favor.

Jara later said he was accustomed to losing opening rounds and trusted his capacity to make in-fight corrections. That mindset paid dividends at a critical moment for the Philippine boxing squad.

Petecio bows out in close fight

Earlier, SEA Games boxing took a dramatic turn when Nesthy Petecio absorbed a tight 3-2 loss to Indonesia’s Hasanah Huswatun in the women’s 63-kilogram division. The result stunned the Filipino camp given Petecio’s Olympic credentials and experience.

Though clearly disappointed, Petecio accepted the decision with grace and respect for the judges. Her composure underscored the professionalism she has long displayed on the international stage.