TOKYO Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam kicked off his 2026 Asian Games medal quest on a triumphant note, overcoming a spirited effort from India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam via majority decision in the men’s 55 kg boxing event on Saturday in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
With the hard-fought victory, the 28-year-old Filipino standout moves within one win of assuring himself at least a bronze medal.
Mandengbam took early control of the ring in the opening round, pinning Paalam in the corner. However, with under 30 seconds remaining in the frame, the veteran Filipino masterfully pivoted out of danger and delivered a flurry of scoring punches to earn the nod of all five judges (10-10-10-10-10).
Paalam weathered a brief slip at the 1:43 mark of the second round, quickly recovering to unleash a heavy volume of punches that secured the round on three judges’ scorecards (10-10-9-9-10).
Facing a 0-2 deficit, Mandengbam pressed aggressively for a knockout in the final round, but the patient orthodox pugilist neutralized the assault with precise jabs and a solid left hook to lock up the victory (10-10-10-10-9).
Paalam finished ahead on the official scorecards with 29-29-28-28-30 compared to Mandengbam’s 27-27-28-28-26.
Paalam is aiming to snap a 16-year Asian Games gold medal drought for Philippine boxing, which last stood atop the Asiad podium in 2010 when Rey Saludar won the flyweight division in Guangzhou, China.
Having skipped the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, Paalam carries the country’s main boxing hopes this year alongside silver medalist Eumir Marcial, who is absent from these Games due to a professional bout in Las Vegas.
