Speed, experience for Pinoy boxer

MANILA, Philippines —  ABAP president Marcus Manalo is confident that Carlo Paalam’s speed and experience will unlock the door leading to the 55kg boxing gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Paalam faces Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi in the final at the Nishio Gymnasium today.

“Carlo’s extremely motivated,” said Manalo. “Very good chance for the gold. It will end the 16-year gold medal drought for us in Asian Games boxing. Carlo is more experienced and has the speed advantage. The key will be to get to his punching range and counter-attack.”

Paalam, 28, is assured of a silver but he’s not content. It’s his third Asiad and Paalam is going for gold to prop up his bid for a third Olympics in 2028. Qualifying for the Olympics begins at the World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, in April next year. “He’s aiming for another Olympic stint and very much capable at his age,” said Manalo.

But Yamaguchi stands in Paalam’s way to the throne. “Yamaguchi is currently ranked No. 2 in the world and has the height and reach advantage,” said Manalo. The Japanese fighter, 22, has scored consecutive 5-0 decisions in breezing through his Nagoya assignments, upending Kyrgyzstan’s Zafarbek Kanilov, Jordan’s Huthaifa Eshish and Mongolia’s Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu. In contrast, Paalam’s road was rocky. He outpointed India’s Jadumani Mandengbam, 3-0-2, China’s Zhang Jianao, 3-2 and Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan, 3-2. The win over reigning back-to-back world champion Sabyrkhan went down to the wire as Argentinian judge Manuel Vilarino saw it 28-28 even and snapped a 2-2 tie by picking Paalam. Judges Jovana Urgenovic of Serbia and Blazo Jabucanin of Montenegro had it 29-27, both for Paalam while judge Athmen Lazizi of Algeria scored it 30-26 and judge Souilmi Moushine of Morocco tallied 29-27, both for Sabyrkhan.

“Carlo was given a one-point deduction for repeated hitting with an open glove which we did not agree with,” noted Manalo. “We thought legal hooks landed. In this case where one judge had an even score while the other four judges were evenly split, the judge with the equal scores was requested to break the tie and nominate which boxer was the winner in his opinion. He went for Carlo.”

Yamaguchi’s record is 21-6 with one KO and two of his losses were to Paalam’s victims Jiamao and Sabyrkhan. He’s the reigning Asian Boxing Elite champion who started his career in 2022. Paalam’s record is 63-18 with one KO. He began his career in 2011 and has fought in two Olympics, claiming silver in 2020.