MANILA – Carlo Paalam pulled off one of the biggest upsets in 2020 Tokyo Olympics boxing after a split-decision triumph over Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in the men’s flyweight quarterfinals on Tuesday at the Kokugikan Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
Paalam was the winner in the four out of five scorecards after the match was stopped midway in the second round due to a bloody gash on Zoirov – the gold medal winner in the division during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
A heavy underdog heading into the match, Paalam showed aggressiveness in the opening round with multiple hits to the head and the body, which later dropped Zoirov, but the referee ruled it as a slip.
The Filipino slugger continued attacking Zoirov with volume punches in the second round before it was halted by Ukrainian referee Pablo Vasylynchuk after an accidental clash of heads by the two fighters.
“Pilit po niya (Zoirov) akong kinukuha sa first round, pero sabi po ni Coach Ronald (Chavez), dapat makuha mo ‘yung first round para sila ang ma-pressure sa’yo,” Paalam said.
With Paalam’s sure bronze medal, the Philippines is now assured of its best finish in the Olympics since the country first joined the competition 97 years ago.
It was also the country’s third boxing medal in this Summer Games, following a silver medal from Filipina featherweight Nesthy Petecio and a sure medal from Filipino middleweight Eumir Marcial.
Paalam still has a chance to upgrade his Olympic medal but is up for a huge challenge in the semifinals against Japanese fighter Ryomei Tanaka, who escaped with a controversial decision win over Rivas Martinez of Colombia in the quarterfinals./PN
