FILIPINO boxer Carlo Paalam advanced to the 20th Asian Games men’s 55-kilogram (kg) class gold medal round after earning a close semifinal split decision win against Kazakh Makhmud Sabyrkhan at the Nishio Gymnasium in Japan on Wednesday afternoon.
Three judges favored Paalam, 29-27, 29-28, 29-27, while two deemed Sabyrkhan the winner, 29-27, 30-26, in the slugfest.
Throwing solid punches including a right straight that shook Sabyrkhan in the second round, Paalam secured a silver medal and his highest finish in the continental meet.
The Olympic silver medalist snared a bronze at the 2018 Asiad edition in Indonesia.
Coached by Elmer Pamisa, Paalam said the bout turned out to be a battle of tactical counters.
“He’ll come forward, and I’ll just stick to my game. We’ll just make sure we’re the first to counter,” said Paalam.
Paalam overcame a point deduction from the referee in the physical third round which he lost, 26-30.
Digging deep into his endurance, Paalam said he showcased the immense Filipino fighting spirit to sway the judges in the last two rounds which he won, 29-28, 29-27.
“I’m showing the referee that we’re Filipinos, that this is our blood. Even if we have to fight to the death, we’ll give it everything in the last round,” shared Paalam.
As the last man standing among the Filipino contingent, Paalam gets himself a shot at ending the Philippines’ 16-year gold medal drought in Asiad boxing.
Rey Saludar was the last Filipino boxer to win a gold in the Asian Games after ruling the 2010 flyweight division (52 kg) in Guangzhou, China.
Paalam faces home bet Rui Yamaguchi in the final, looking to add to the Philippines’ three-gold haul in the ongoing meet after gymnast Carlos Yulo’s two and pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s one.
Yamaguchi defeated Mongolian Bilguunsaikhan Kharkhuu via unanimous decision in their semifinal encounter.
The gold medal match is set for Oct. 2 at 12:45 p.m. in Manila.
Receiving a first-round bye, Paalam started his campaign with a majority decision win over Indian Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the second round (round of 16).
Paalam then took down Chinese Zhang Jiamao in the quarterfinal via split decision before earning another one against Sabyrkhan in the semis.
