Filipino boxers Carlo Paalam and Nesthy Petecio take center stage for the Philippines on Monday, July 26 in the Tokyo Olympics at the Kokugikan Arena. The 5-foot-4 Paalam makes his Olympic debut as he faces the 5-foot-6 Brendan Irvine of Ireland in a round of 32 bout in the men’s flyweight division at 11:03 a.m.
The 23-year-old Paalam takes on the 26-year-old Irvine, who finished 17th in the Olympic rankings in the 2016 Rio Games.
Paalam, along with fellow 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Carlo Petecio, qualified for the Olympics ‘by virtue of their highest standing in their respective weight categories’ according to Olympic Boxing Task Force Rankings last March.
On the other hand, Petecio eyes a quarterfinals berth when she collides against Lin Yu-Ting in their round of 16 fight in the women’s featherweight division at 12:39 p.m. at the same venue.
The 29-year-old Petecio is world no. 7 while the 25-year-old Lin is world no.1.
The 5-foot-2 Petecio set a bout against Lin after defeating Marcelat Sakobi Matshu of the Democratic Republic of Congo via unanimous decision in the round of 32 match on July 24 also at the Kokugikan Arena.
