Aira Villegas pulls off upset, advances to quarterfinals

Aira Villegas delivered a massive upset at the Paris 2024 Olympics, defeating second seed Roumaysa Boualam of Algeria in their women’s 50kg Round of 16 bout.

The fight, held inside the North Paris Arena on Friday, ended in a unanimous decision favoring Villegas.

The judges’ scores reflected Villegas’ dominance: 30-29, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, and 30-29, securing her a memorable victory against the highly favored Algerian.

Villegas, a relative underdog in the bout, displayed exceptional skill and determination, overwhelming Boualam with her speed and precision. The Filipina boxer’s victory was a testament to her unwavering belief and relentless training.

This victory marks Villegas’ second consecutive win against African opponents, bringing her within one win of securing at least a bronze medal. She is set to face French boxer Wassila Lkhadiri in the quarterfinals on Sunday, August 4, at 3:20 a.m. (Philippine time).

Stay tuned as Villegas continues her quest for Olympic glory, representing the Philippines with pride and determination.