PARIS — The Philippines’ Nesthy Petecio battles it out against hometown bet Amin Zidani in the Round of 16 of the women’s 57-kilogram Paris Olympics boxing competition at the North Paris Arena on Friday at 8 p.m. (12 midnight, Saturday, Philippine time) with a quarterfinal seat at stake.

Petecio is expected to encounter a stiff challenge from Zidani, who will undoubtedly be buoyed by the support of the French crowd.

The 30-year-old Zidani brings a wealth of experience to the ring.

She clinched the featherweight gold at the 2023 European Games, thereby securing her place in the Paris Olympics.

Moreover, her six-time French national championship title from 2016 to 2021 is a testament to her dominance in the domestic scene.

The Frenchwoman’s journey to the Olympics was further solidified with a bronze medal finish at the 2023 World Championships, where she fell short against Italy’s Irma Testa in the semifinals.

Interestingly, Petecio had previously defeated Testa in the semifinals of the Tokyo Olympics.

But while Petecio, fellow Tokyo silver medalist Carlo Paalam, and debutante Aira Villegas remain in contention, the Philippine boxing squad has suffered setbacks with the early exits of Tokyo bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and Hergie Bacyadan.

Marcial was eliminated in the men’s 80-kilogram division after a unanimous decision loss to Uzbekistan’s Turabek Khabibullaev.

Bacyadan’s Olympic journey also came to an abrupt end following a 0-5 defeat against Tokyo silver medalist Li Qian of China in the women’s 75-kilogram category.

Meanwhile, Paalam promised not to relax or lower down his guards even as he has got past the top favorite in their weight category in the Paris Olympics.

Paalam is keeping a mindset that there’s no easy bout in the Olympics and he’d rather focus on the task at hand.

“Lahat ng nandito naka-prepara, gagawin ko lang ang best ko sa bawat laban,” said Paalam, reaching the 57kg quarterfinals with a unanimous win over Commonwealth Games titlist Jude Gallagher of Ireland Wednesday at the Paris North Arena.

Up next for Paalam is Australian Charlie Senior, 4-1 winner over Vasile Usturoi.

A win will assure Paalam of a bronze medal – if ever his second Olympic podium finish after winning silver in Tokyo in 2021.

But like against Gallagher, the Takalag, Bukidnon bet will be giving much in height and reach versus the 22-year-old 5-foot-10 Senior, gold medalist in the 2023 Pacific Games.

Nonetheless, Elmer Pamisa, Paalam’s discoverer in Cagayan de Oro and who has since been guiding the young fighter in his journey, is confident the Filipino bet can handle Senior.

“Suki niya yan sa training,” said Pamisa of Paalam’s good stand versus Senior in training in Germany in the run-up to the Games.

And Paalam may use the same strategy he did in his first bout.

“Malaki at magaling kaya pina-open ko muna,” said Paalam of Gallagher.

“Pinapa-open ko, matamaan man ako, clear punch yung balik ko,” Paalam pointed out. “Nag-o-open ako (to bait him), pag-suntok niya, bawi ako ng dalawang clear punch.” It was a strategy that worked, leading to Paalam drawing the nod of all five judges.

And his chase for Paris gold is off and running.