REVENGE is a dish best served cold, and Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Carlo Paalam was cold-blooded in a masterful unanimous decision win over Turkmenistan’s Shukur Ovezov last Tuesday night to advance to the next round of the men’s 57kg division in the 2nd World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand.
Due to a shoulder injury, Paalam was forced to withdraw against the Turk when they first met in the first qualifier held in Busto Arsizio, Italy last March.
This time, Paalam left no doubt as to who was the superior boxer, with all five judges scoring it 30-27 for the Cagayan de Oro pride, who moved closer to a second Olympic stint in July.
“Masaya ako na nakagalaw ako nang maayos. Pagsisikapan ko pa ang mga susunod na laban,” said Paalam, who will face Armenia’s Artur Bazeyan, a close 3-2 winner over Jordan’s Yousef Iashash, for a spot in the round-of-16 in the division featuring 63 entries.
Visibly pleased by the result of his ward’s performance was national coach Elmer Pamisa, who said: “Ito ‘yung hinanahanap ko na laro ni Carlo. Pang-Olympics ang galaw. Bumalik na ‘yung speed niya and naka-adjust na siya sa weight class niya.”
“That’s the Carlo I expected — able to create angles and space to attack using feints and his speed, which will be to his advantage throughout the tournament,” echoed boxing secretary general Marcus Manalo.
Manalo said Paalam was businesslike in disposing of the Turk and “there weas nothing extra. No feeling of redemption whatsoever. Just another win to move to the next round. Carlo is just focused on what’s in front of him as he fulfills his Olympic dream.”
Paalam has the toughest weight division among the four boxers competing in the tournament, the last man standing after Rogen Ladon and Fritz Laurente bowed out of contention in their opening bouts.
With only three Olympic quota places in the weight class, he needs to reach the semifinals and gain a ticket by either being a winning semifinalist or, failing that, prevailing in the box-off between the losing semifinalists to punch his ticket to Paris.
