ON paper, Carlo Paalam scored a unanimous 5-0 win over upstart Irish boxer Jude Gallagher last Wednesday night (Wednesday afternoon in France) as he opened his campaign in the men’s featherweight division of the Paris Olympic Games boxing tournament at the Arena Paris Nord.
A closer scrutiny of the scorecards showed the results were much closer, with the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist emerging as a clear 30-27 winner in the eyes of one judge while the four others saw it a close 29-28 decision over the 20-year-old Irish Olympic rookie, the Commonwealth Games titlist who was the top favorite in the 57kg class.
Ranged against a taller and bigger foe, Paalam was not at his dominant best and got tagged a couple of times by Gallagher’s right straight. He failed to move in to hurt the slippery Irishman from close range with his potent body punches.
Relying more on his ring savvy, the Filipino pug won the first round 3-2.
Paalam failed to land combinations in the second, missing wildly at times, while Gallagher continued to stalk and press his rival.
Sensing he was behind, the Irishman continued to press his Pinoy opponent, whose ring smarts and experience came to the forefront and even tried to psyche Gallagher by letting his guard down and encouraging him to come in.
Once Gallagher took the bait, Paalam was there waiting for him with a hail of combinations in what was to be his best round.
During the post-match interview, Paalam said he relied more on his brain rather than brawn in beating his tough Irish rival.
“Unang-una po, ‘yung talino po. To be wise in the ring, useless ang lakas mo kung hindi tatama ng clear punch. Kaya iniisip ko na ‘yung lakas maging 30 percent, ‘yung talino 70 percent.”
The former scavenger said he was driven to win, considering that his fans paid good money to see him perform.
“Every fight ko nga, sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na manalo. Matalo man ako, gagawin ko ‘yung best ko na wala akong pinagsisisihan pagbaba ng ring,” he said.
Paalam will go up next against Australian No. 4 seed Charlie Senior, who beat Belgian Vasile Ustulroi 4-1, in the quarterfinals tomorrow.
A win will assure Paalam of a bronze medal and his second Olympic podium finish after winning the silver in Tokyo in 2021.
The Takalag, Bukidnon bet will again face a disadvantage in height and reach against the 22-year-old 5-foot-10 Senior, the gold medalist in the 2023 Pacific Games.
Elmer Pamisa, who discovered Paalam in Cagayan de Oro and has since been guiding the 26-year-old fighter in his journey, is confident his ward can handle Senior.
“Suki niya ‘yan sa training,” said Pamisa of Paalam’s good stand against Senior in training in Germany in the run-up to the Games.
And Paalam may use the same strategy he did in his first bout.
“Malaki at magaling kaya pina-open ko muna,” said Paalam of Gallagher. “Pinapa-open ko, matamaan man ako, clear punch yung balik ko.
“Nag-o-open ako (to bait him), pag-suntok niya, bawi ako ng dalawang clear punch.” It was a strategy that worked, leading to Paalam drawing the nod of all five judges.
And his chase for Paris gold is off and running.
