| |
|
Tough road ahead for Paalam
By Joaquin Henson PhilBoxing.com Thu, 30 May 2024
 Carlo Paalam (R) in action against Turkmenistan’s Sukur Ovezov in Thailand.
Featherweight contender Carlo Paalam has three more wins to go before clinching a ticket to Paris but it won’t be an easy pathway as the fights are scheduled one day after another starting today against Armenia’s Artur Bazeyan at the second World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok. If Paalam gets by Bazeyan, he’ll advance to engage the winner of the match between Dominican Republic’s Jose de los Santos and Chinese-Taipei’s Lee Cheng-wei tomorrow. And if he’s still standing, his next bout will be on Saturday.
If Paalam makes it to the semis and loses, he’ll get a last chance to book a pass in a box-off for the third available Olympic slot on Sunday. In Paalam’s weight class, there are only three tickets up for grabs with 63 fighters at the start gate. So far, Paalam has won two bouts convincingly, outpointing Greece’s Alexei Lagkazasvili and Turkmenistan’s Sukur Ovezov both via 5-0 decisions. Paalam bagged a silver in the flyweight 52kg division at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and now, he’s aiming for a second Olympic stint in the 57kg class.
Aside from Paalam, the Philippine team’s other hope for a Paris ticket is middleweight (75kg) Hergie Bacyadan. She eliminated Spain’s Dunia Martinez Mas in her first bout last Monday and will need two more wins to clinch. There are four slots available in Bacyadan’s division so making it to the semis will nail it. Bacyadan’s next fight is against Hungary’s Veronika Nakota on Saturday. If Bacyadan wins, she’ll go for her third win and the Paris ticket on Sunday.
ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas will arrive in Bangkok this afternoon. “Primary goal is to qualify for an Olympic spot,” said Vargas. “My continued best wishes and lots of prayers offered for Carlo’s and Hergie’s success. Let’s go to Paris. Sumbag, Pinoy.” ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo said Paalam and Bacyadan are facing tough opponents but they have the advantages and the key is to work with their strengths. “Hergie needs to get to her range and set up powerful attacks,” Manalo added. “Carlo needs to create attack angles and use his speed to land combinations.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA , Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25 , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy , Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON , Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships , Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights” , Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN , Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA , Mon, 07 Jul 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|