Mark Ashley Fajardo absorbed a tough loss against a Thai opponent to settle for a bronze medal in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, Monday at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center.
Thailand's Bunjoing Sinsiri scored a unanimous decision win against Fajardo in the semifinals of the men's 69kg weight class.
The hometown bet stamped his class over Fajardo, dictating the tempo of the first two rounds behind the effective counter-punching.
Fajardo tried to rally in the final round, where he landed a few big hits, but it was not enough as all five judges gave the nod to the Thai.
Still, Fajardo remained thankful for what he had achieved as he was the lone PH boxer who had to go through a preliminary round.
"Thankful ako kasi ang hirap kumuha ng medal lalo na sa timbang ko, nine kaming lahat. Sa lahat ng boxers ako lang 'yung may prelims, kaya pangatlong laban ko na ito," said Fajardo, who dominated Nguyen Duc Ngoc of Vietnam in the prelims and then Riwu Jekri in the quarterfinals.
"Sobrang hirap kumuha ng medalya, kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa Panginoon," he added.
With Fajardo's exit, the Philippine boxing team is now left with seven boxers in contention for the gold medal.
All of them are now assured of bronze medals with Riza Pasuit, Ofelia Magno, Flint Jara and Jay Bryan Baricuatro aiming for guaranteed silver medals in their respective semifinal bouts on Tuesday, Dec. 16
Aira Villegas, Weljon Mindoro and Eumir Marcial, meanwhile, will fight for a spot in the gold medal match on Wednesday, Dec. 17.