Filipino boxer Irish Magno bowed out the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a loss by unanimous decision in the women’s flyweight round of 16 on Thursday, July 29, at the Kokugikan Arena.

Thailand’s Jutamas Jitpong, who lost to Magno in the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games semifinal and settled for a bronze medal, avenged her loss with a 30-27, 30-27, 30-27, 29-28, 30-27 decision.

Jitpong will advance to the quarterfinal round on Sunday, August 1.

From the get-go, the Thai came out aggressive and landed a solid right jab in the opening minute. The Filipina hardly had any answer for most of the first round, before unleashing a right in the last 10 seconds.

In the second round, Magno continued to struggle getting close to Jitpong, who outpaced her for another dominant performance.

With nothing to lose in the final round, the Iloilo native tried to cause problems for Jitpong, but the Thai was riding hot on her momentum to seal the bout.

Magno was the first out of the four Filipino boxers in the Tokyo Olympics to exit the competition.

World champion Nesthy Petecio will compete in the women’s featherweight semifinal, Carlo Paalam will continue in the men’s flyweight round of 16 on Saturday, July 31, while Eumir Marcial won by referee stoppage earlier for a men’s middleweight quarterfinal berth on Sunday, August 1.

Magno made history as the first Filipina boxer to punch her way to the Olympics after winning the box-off for one of six Olympic slots in the women’s flyweight event in the Asia and Oceania qualifiers. 

Magno donned the national colors in three of the last four editions of the SEA Games, winning a bantamweight bronze medal in 2013 and flyweight silver medals in 2015 and 2019. – Rappler.com