And then there was one. His name is Carlo Paalam.
Ahead of the 20th Asian Games in Japan, the Philippine boxing team carried hopes of finally ending a 16‑year gold‑medal drought. Those hopes now rest solely on Carlo Paalam. He is not only the country’s last man standing but also the only one assured of bringing home a medal of any color.
Carlo Paalam Barges Into Semis
The 28‑year‑old Olympian secured at least a bronze medal on Monday after edging China’s Jiamao Zhang via split decision at the Nishio City General Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture. With the win, Paalam booked a semifinal clash against Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan, with a place in the men’s 55kg gold‑medal bout on the line.
Paalam came out aggressive in the opening round, earning the nod of three judges. He shifted gears in the second, picking his spots carefully to win four of the five scorecards. Zhang tried to turn the tide in the final round with extra physicality, but Paalam kept his composure and sealed the medal‑clinching victory.
Last Boxer Standing for Team Philippines
Paalam will return to action on Wednesday against Sabyrkhan, whom he defeated in the bantamweight final of the 2022 ASBC Asian Elite Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan. This time, he carries the weight of the nation’s boxing hopes as the Philippines’ lone survivor in the tournament.
The team began with six boxers, plus Eumir Marcial, who was a late withdrawal after a professional fight days before the Games. One by one, the rest fell: flagbearer Aira Villegas lost her opening match, Norlan Petecio and Riza Pasuit bowed out in the Round of 16, while Nesthy Petecio and Junmilardo Ogayre exited in the quarterfinals.
Now, only Paalam remains. He has already prevented a medal shutout and stands on the brink of a possible gold—something the Philippines has not achieved in boxing at the Asian Games since 2010.
The bigger picture, however, is sobering. While Paalam’s run is inspiring, the overall performance of the Philippine boxing team has fallen short of expectations. For now, all eyes are on Paalam to see if he can turn a solitary medal into a historic golden finish.
