Oro Olympian Paalam struggles to make weight

CARLO Paalam is struggling to make weight as he joins fellow Olympic medalists Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial in spearheading the Philippine boxing team that will see action in the Asian Elite Men and Women Championships in Amman, Jordan on October 30 to November 13.

Coming from over a one-year layoff since taking the bronze in men’s 52-kilogram of the Tokyo Summer Olympics, the 24-year-old Paalam will resume fighting overseas at the 54-kilogram, or some 4.4 pounds heavier than his normal weight.

“He’s been gaining weight though not a big deal as the Jordan trip is considered as just a warm-up for a hectic ABAP schedule in 2023,” said Paalam’s coach Elmer Pamisa.

Olympics silver medalist Petecio from Davao del Sur will compete in the women’s 57kg, while the Zamboanga City pride Marcial ― who scored his third-straight win in the professional boxing stage over American Steven Pichardo on Oct. 8 in the United States ― will be back slugging it out in the amateur ranks at 75 kgs.

Marcial, 26, bucked a deep cut on his right eye to secure a unanimous decision win over Pichardo in their six-round middleweight bout in California.

In Jordan, the hard-pounding Marcial is deemed to also make some adjustments.

And while Pamisa is confident of Paalam’s ability to rise above the challenge, he’s also fully aware that the heavier category taken by his ward is loaded with taller opponents, some of them are even world-caliber and former Olympians just like the three Filipinos from Mindanao.

“Let us see what’s in store for Carlo in the heavier weight, though our goal is to have him back in 52 kgs in time of the Paris Olympics in 2024,” Pamisa said.

At least 10 more promising fighters, who trained for three months in Baguio alongside Petecio and Paalam, will try their luck in the Asian Elite Boxing Championships, a prelude to ABAP’s participation in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, serving as one of the qualifications for the Paris Olympics.

The association is also keeping an eye on the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in May 2023.

Joining Petecio in the women’s roster are Tokyo Olympian campaigner Irish Magno (52 kg), Althea Pores ( 48kg), Aira Villegas (50kg), and Hergie Bacyadan (75kg).

Completing the men’s squad are Mark Lester Durens (48kg), Rogen Ladon (51kg), Ian Clark Bautista or Mario Fernandez (57kg) Paul Julyfer Bascon (60kg), James Palicte or Jere Samuel dela Cruz (63.5kg) and Marjon Piañar (69kg).