• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bagonhon flyweight John Wayne Vicera secured a guaranteed bronze medal after advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The Negrosanon boxer earned his spot on the podium following a unanimous decision victory over Mongolia’s Battulga Aldarkhishig in their Elite Men’s 50kg division quarterfinal bout.
Representing the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), Vicera outpointed Battulga who was ranked second globally in the men’s 50kg Division by World Boxing, a not-for-profit international sports federation.
He is now scheduled to face Daichi Iwai of Japan in the semifinal round on April 7 for a chance to compete in the championship final.
Vicera stands as the sole remaining Filipino representative in the competition, after the other four members of the national contingent were eliminated from the competition.
The Asian Elite Boxing Championships, which runs from March 28 to April 11, features over 230 boxers from 25 countries.
Vicera also defeated Migma Dorji of Bhutan in a unanimous 5-0 decision.*
