By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Filipino boxing star Carlo Paalam’s hunt for an Olympic gold medal is still on track after entering the quarterfinal round of the men’s boxing featherweight event of the Paris Global Games on July 31, 2024, held at the North Paris Arena.
The former Tokyo Olympic silver medalist made quick work of Ireland’s Jude Gallagher, scoring a massive 5-0 unanimous decision win during their Round of 16 elimination phase showdown.
From the get-go, the more experienced Paalam pummeled Gallagher with his quick 1-2 combinations and wisely got out of trouble when the Irish slugger tamed him to the ropes.
Known as a pressure fighter who likes to press inside and cut the distance, Gallagher had early success in baiting Paalam in the corner but the Filipino bet countered midway through the first round with his slick head movement to avoid the upcoming danger.
In the final 30 seconds of the opening frame, Paalam officially sealed the scorecards when he hit Gallagher with four clean shots followed by a jab clinic in the final two punch exchanges.
Gallagher didn’t halt his pressure in the next round, stalking Paalam inside the ring but again, his quick movement of evading the Irish’s haymakers made the difference and always found him open on the back foot, connecting with a right straight before establishing his position in the middle of the ring.
Up in the scorecards with a decent round score of 2-0, Paalam fought the final round as if he was never in the lead and poured in the last assault that caught Gallagher off guard.
Instead of relaxing too much and hearing the match bell ring to an end, the Filipino featherweight representative initiated most of the action and even dared Gallagher to a slugfest in the final at 1:30 of the third.
With the huge win, Paalam just avenged the losses of his countrymen Eumir Marcial and Hergie Bacyadan who are already out of the Olympics after dropping their opening matches.
Paalam will have a day left to prepare for the quarterfinals as he will face the rolling Charlie Senior of Australia on August 3, 2024.
