ABAP President Ricky Vargas is asking for fairness from the judges come the SEA Games 2025 boxing finals on December 19, noting how 16 out of 17 boxers from Thailand reached the gold medal match.
Sixteen out of 17 Thai boxers in the SEA Games 2025 gold medal match.
Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) president Ricky Vargas had to point out Thailand's "unprecedented performance" in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, noting how all but one gold medal match featured a home bet.
"It has been close to impossible to win via decision against them and even getting one judge is tough. In total, they won 77 times in the total scorecards and only lost eight," Vargas said in a statement.
In those 16 gold medal matches, three will have Filipinos as opponents.
Paris Olympics 2024 bronze medalist Aira Villegas will take on Chuthamat Raksat in the women's 50kg flyweight.
Jay Bryan Baricuatro will face Thitiwat Phlongaurai in the men's light flyweight (46-48kg).
Meanwhile, Jara Flint will battle Thanarat Saengphet in the men's bantamweight (54kg).
Eumir Marcial gets the lone non-Thai fight, as Maikhel Muskita of Indonesia took down a Thai boxer in the semis of the men's light heavyweight (80kg) division.
"All we ask for is fairness in the judging because we’re confident of our boxers’ abilities," Vargas noted.
He already formally raised concerns over the judging in boxing, particularly the controversial loss of Hergie Bacyadan to Thailand's Baison Manikon.
The inquiry also highlights questionable decisions in the bouts of Filipino boxers Ian Clark Bautista and Mark Ashley Fajardo against Thai opponents.
The boxing gold medal matches will be streamed on December 19, Friday, via One Sports YouTube and Pilipinas Live.
(With reports from Nic Earnshaw, AJ Bolando/Cignal)
Katrina Alba is a sports journalist and producer, notably with SportsCenter Philippines before taking on her current role at One Sports.
She primarily writes about basketball and volleyball, with experience covering the SEA Games, Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup.
Outside of work, her hobbies include running, swimming, pickleball, yoga, arnis, and krav maga.