Magno, first Pinay to qualify in Olympic boxing

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Irish Magno won a resounding decision against a boxer from Tajikistan in a box off today at the Olympic qualifiers here in Amman, Jordan. She is the first Filipina boxer to qualify for the Olympics! Mabuhay! Sumbag Pinay!!! #ABAP #psc #mvpsf

A post shared by Ed Picson (@edcaster) on Mar 11, 2020 at 3:33am PDT

Irish Magno scored a dominant victory over Tajikistan's Sumaiya Qosimova in the box-off round of the 2020 Asia and Oceania Olympic boxing qualifying tournament in Amman, Jordan on Wednesday to earn a slot in the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Magno is the first Filipina boxer to qualify for the Olympic.

She also became the second Filipino boxer to secure a Japan ticket after Eumir Marcial, and fourth overall behind gymnast Carlos Yulo and pole-vaulter EJ Obiena.

Magno outgunned Qosimova, repeatedly spearing the younger and smaller Tajik with her stinging left jab before unloading her right cross. The judges scored it 5-0 for Magno.

"I'm so very happy I'm going to the Olympics," Magno said. "I just listened to my coach, they saw the fight of my opponent last time and they studied it."

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She entered the box-offs of the women's flyweight division after bowing to Mary Kom of India in the quarterfinals. She opened the tournament with a stoppage win over Winnie Yinyin of Hong Kong.

Carlo Paalam was not as lucky in his own box-off, though, as the Filipino flyweight fighter bowed to Saken Bibossinov of Kazakhstan.

The lanky Bibossinov used his longer reach to ward off Paalam, thus piling the points in the first 2 rounds.

Paalam came charging in the third stanza looking for a knockout, but failed.

(For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website).