BY JOEL C. ESCOL, Managing Editor
Carlo Paalam, the silver medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, kicked off his 2024 Paris Games campaign with a commanding performance in the men’s 57kg boxing division. On Wednesday, Paalam secured his place in the quarterfinals after defeating Irish boxer Jude Gallagher with a unanimous decision at the North Paris Arena. The judges scored the bout 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, and 29-28 in favor of the Filipino boxer.
Despite a close first round, where Paalam only won the nod of three out of five judges, he came into his own in the subsequent rounds. Paalam dominated the second round, earning a perfect 5/5 score from the judges. His agility and tactical acumen were on full display in the final round, as he adeptly evaded Gallagher’s attacks while landing precise jabs, convincing three judges to award him the win.
Paalam’s victory in the round-of-16 assures him of a place in the quarterfinals, where he will face the winner of a bout between Vasile Usturoi of Belgium and Charlie Senior of Australia. With this win, Paalam has secured at least a bronze medal, but he is determined to surpass his silver medal achievement from Tokyo and aim for gold.
Earlier in the day, another Filipino boxer, Hergie Bacyadan, was eliminated from the women’s boxing competition after losing to China’s Li Qian. Despite this setback, Paalam’s victory marks the third win for Filipino boxers in Paris, following successes by Aira Villegas and fellow Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio.
Paalam, showing aggressive form and quick footwork, initially faced some challenges as Gallagher, utilizing his height advantage, managed to gain some favor with judges Yermek Suiyenish of Kazakhstan and Pavel Pavlov of Bulgaria. However, Paalam’s resilience and superior technique ensured a dominant performance in the latter rounds, leading to his advancement in the tournament.
With his eyes set on the gold medal, Paalam’s journey in the Paris Olympics continues to build on the momentum from his previous success, promising more thrilling moments for boxing enthusiasts worldwide.
