![Kobe Bryant watching Manny Pacquiao’s sparring session at Wild Card Boxing Club in 2011. [photo credit: Chris Farina of Top Rank | Tempo]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot_495-400x200.png)
In November 2011, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant made a rare visit to Manny Pacquiao’s Wild Card Boxing Club workout, highlighting a unique crossover between basketball and boxing.
![Marcial’s victory helps PH boxing avoid a gold-less campaign in Bangkok. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/599629451_1185259633770272_2303501535967533876_n-400x200.jpg)
Eumir Marcial won the men’s 80kg boxing gold at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, ending the Philippines’ medal drought in the sport after a week of controversial decisions.
![Flint Jara attacks during the boxing final at Chulalongkorn Sports Center. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2923-400x200.jpeg)
Flint Jara fought valiantly despite an injured hand but lost 0-5 to Thailand’s Thanapat Saengphet in the men’s 54-kg boxing final at the 33rd SEA Games, settling for silver.
![Baricuatro presses forward during the gold-medal fight. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2935-400x200.jpeg)
Jay Brian Baricuatro fought valiantly but lost 1-4 to Thailand’s Thitiwat Phlongauri in the men’s 48-kg final of the 33rd SEA Games boxing tournament, settling for silver.
![Marcial eyes gold against tough Indonesian contender while teammates face strong Thai opponents. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/096A6002-400x200.jpg)
Four Filipino boxers—Eumir Marcial, Flint Jara, Jay Brian Baricuatro, and Aira Villegas—prepare for gold medal matches at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games while carrying the memory of their fallen teammates.
![Filipino Olympian Eumir Marcial keeps his SEA Games gold hopes alive with a decisive KO over Nguyen. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/096A6756-400x200.jpg)
Eumir Marcial scored a second-round knockout over Vietnam’s Manh Cuing Nguyen to advance to the gold-medal bout in the men’s 80-kg division at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
![Jay Brian Baricuatro dominates Timor Leste’s Antonio da Silva to secure a gold-medal match at the 33rd SEA Games in Bangkok. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/598286950_1182966247332944_2680857823982271033_n-400x200.jpg)
Filipino boxers Jay Brian Baricuatro and Flint Jara booked their spots in the gold-medal matches at the 33rd SEA Games following decisive victories in their semifinals bouts.
![Riza Pasuit bows out after her 60kg semifinal bout in Bangkok. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/599470943_1182907404005495_1909704473878428721_n-400x200.jpg)
Ofelia Magno and Riza Pasuit fell in the semifinals at the 33rd SEA Games, leaving the Philippine boxing team with five bronze medals and only Aira Villegas still in contention for gold.
![Marcial targets his fifth consecutive SEA Games gold with a decisive win. [POC Media Pool]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/600368975_1182211677408401_41516813379323200_n-400x200.jpg)
Filipino pro boxers Eumir Felix Marcial and Weljon Mindoro will compete for finals slots in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, joined by Paris Olympian Aira Villegas in the women’s flyweight semifinals.
![Mark Ashley Fajardo exchanges punches with Bunjoing Sinsiri during the men’s 69kg semifinals at the SEA Games. [POC Facebook]](https://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/599519229_1182211394075096_7388108565138418370_n-400x200.jpg)
Mark Ashley Fajardo secured a bronze medal after falling to Thailand’s Bunjoing Sinsiri in the men’s 69kg boxing semifinals at the 33rd SEA Games, finishing his campaign with pride despite the loss.