HERE’S good news for boxers Carlo Paalam and Rogen Ladon, who are both bidding to see action in the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games in May.
Instead of clashing for the lone slot in the flyweight (51-kilogram) division, Paalam, a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, and back-to-back SEA Games flyweight champion Ladon will fight in separate weight classes, according to boxing secretary general Marcus Manalo.
“Ladon will still be fighting in the flyweight division while Paalam is moving up to the 54kg or featherweight class. That’s good for us,” Manalo said.
Paalam, who won the silver in the Tokyo Olympics as a flyweight, has adjusted and is now comfortable in the featherweight category, underlined by his victory in the Asian elite boxing championships in Amman, Jordan last November.
Manalo said the national men’s boxing squad will only see action in the 48, 51, 54, 57, 60, 63.5, 67, 71 and 80kg divisions and will skip the higher weights.
“We’re not joining (the) 86 kilos and up while in the women’s division we are joining in the 54 and 57 kilos and are still deciding between 63 or 75 kilos,” he added.
