Filipino Boxer Carlo Paalam Bags 32nd Southeast Asian Games Gold Medal

Filipino Carlo Paalam’s performance in the men’s bantamweight division at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games Sunday, May 14, was nothing short of impressive. The Filipino boxer showed excellent skill and accuracy in his punches as he claimed victory over his Indonesian opponent, Aldoms Suguro, by unanimous decision.

Paalam, a Filipino Olympic silver medalist, faced off against Indonesia’s Aldoms Suguro in what turned out to be a one-sided contest.

Paalam was in complete control from the start, using his speed and precision to calculate his foe’s movements before unleashing accurate punches that found their mark. Suguro tried to land punches of his own, but the 24-year-old from Talakag, Bukidnon, evaded them with ease, moving around the ring with confidence.

By the end of the second round, Paalam was already securing his second victory in the SEA Games, having won the title in the 2019 edition held in Manila. Suguro tried to turn the tide in the third round, but Paalam continued to punish him with pinpoint striking to the head and body.

The win was also a good start for Paalam in building his confidence for the upcoming Asian Games, which he acknowledged would be a more challenging tournament.

After securing the gold medal in the men’s bantamweight division at the Southeast Asian Games, Carlo Paalam is already looking ahead to the Asian Games. Paalam expects to face top-tier competition at the Asiad, including Olympic bronze medalists Ryomei Tanaka of Japan and Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov.

Paalam acknowledges that the Asian Games have become a world-class tournament, attracting some of the best boxers in his weight class. However, the Filipino boxer is confident in his abilities and believes that his experience in the Olympics has prepared him for the challenges ahead. “I know it’s going to be tough, but I’m excited for the opportunity to compete against some of the best boxers in the world,” he said.

While Paalam secured the gold medal, his fellow boxers Rogen Ladon, Irish Magno, and Riza Pasuit were not as fortunate, winning silver medals in their respective weight classes. 

Meanwhile, heavyweight Markus Tongco managed to climb the podium and secure a bronze in the men’s 92kg category.

Ladon, the defending champion, fell short in his bid for a gold medal in the men’s flyweight division at the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia on Saturday. Ladon could not overcome the clinching tactics of Thailand’s Tharanat Saengphet in the final, losing the match 5-0.

Despite winning gold medals in 2019 Philippine and 2022 Vietnam Games, Ladon had to settle for silver this time around. 

Magno also missed out on the gold, losing to her Thai rival Jutamas Jitpong in the women’s lightweight final.

Magno tried to roughen up Jitpong with her aggressive style, but the Thai boxer’s effective counterpunching proved too much for her. Jitpong won the match 5-0, leaving Magno to settle for a silver medal.

Pasuit, for her part, also had to settle for a silver medal after suffering a similar fate against Vietnamese boxer Thi Linh Ha in the women’s lightweight final. Pasuit had to engage in a slugfest with the taller Vietnamese fighter, but Thi used her longer reach to keep Pasuit at bay and win the match.

Despite falling short of their gold medal aspirations, Ladon, Magno, and Pasuit can take pride in their performances and their achievements at the SEA Games. Their silver medals are a testament to their hard work and dedication, and they have shown that they are among the best boxers in the region.