Three Filipino boxers win bronze at 2025 Asian Youth Boxing Championships

The Philippines is known for producing top boxers and remains a hub for boxing talent, a tradition continued by the impressive Filipino performances at the 2025 Asian Youth Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

Filipino boxers Ronel Soyum, Mark Ashley Fajardo, and Xian Baguhin made the country proud by securing bronze medals in their respective weight divisions in the Under-22 and Under-19 categories.

Soyum defeated Shaoqin Li of China via unanimous decision in the Under-22 men’s 55-kilogram weight class quarterfinals, guaranteeing himself at least a bronze medal. However, he withdrew from his semifinal bout after sustaining a cut above his left eyebrow during the match against Li.

(UPDATE) FILIPINO boxers Ronel Soyum, Mark Ashley Fajardo and Xian Baguhin bagged a bronze medal each at the Asian U22 and U19 Boxing Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. https://t.co/CpWhdtUeO2

— The Manila Times (@TheManilaTimes) August 7, 2025

Soyum’s camp decided not to risk further injury by proceeding with the semifinal bout against Durguunsaikhan Kharkhuu of Mongolia, thus ending his campaign.

“I can’t compete tomorrow in the semifinal because my vision is really impaired in my left eye, so we decided to withdraw from the fight. I’m still grateful to the Lord because this is my first time in an elite-level competition, and I managed to bag a bronze medal. I’m still very happy with this experience,” Soyum told reporters.

Fajardo, meanwhile, secured his bronze medal after a disqualification win over Kinley Kinley of Bhutan in the men’s 65-kilogram weight division quarterfinals. Like Soyum, he will not be able to fight for silver after withdrawing from his semifinal bout against Ilya Kalinin of Kazakhstan due to a left-hand injury.

Baguhin, for her part, defeated Moena Kashiwada of Japan via a split decision in the quarterfinals of the Under-19 women’s 51-kilogram division, securing a bronze medal. With both Soyum and Fajardo out of contention, the Philippines’ gold medal hopes now rest on the shoulders of Baguhin.

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