Carlo Paalam kept the country’s flickering hopes for a boxing medal alive after fending off a tough challenge from a quality opponent from India.
The Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist did just enough to eke out a close unanimous decision victory over Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the Round of 16 of the men’s 55kg division on Saturday at the Nishio City General Gymnasium.
The 28-year-old Paalam controlled the opening round with his jabs and accurate counterpunching, allowing him to shut out Mandengbam.
The Indian came back strong in the second round and increased his work rate, but the experienced Paalam showed tremendous poise to fend off his foe’s attempts to seize control of the fight. Paalam still took the round, but by the slimmest of margins, as two of the five judges scored it in favor of the Indian.
Mandengbam, a silver and bronze medalist in the World Boxing Cup and the 2026 Commonwealth Games silver medalist, launched a furious attack in the final round in a last-ditch attempt to snatch the victory away from a fading Paalam.
Although Mandengbam won the fourth round via a 4-1 split, Paalam had already built enough of a lead to preserve the victory.
Paalam is now one win away from securing at least a bronze medal. To book his spot on the podium, he will have to get past China’s Zhang Jiamao.
He also joins Junmilardo Ogayre in the boxing quarterfinals, after Ogayre advanced in the 60kg division yesterday.
