Cagayan de Oro boxer Carlo Paalam moved one win away from Asian Games gold after beating Kazakhstan’s world champion Makhmud Sabyrkhan by split decision Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Paalam won, 3-2, in their men’s 55-kilogram semifinal at the Nishio Gymnasium, securing at least a silver medal for the Philippines.
The 28-year-old Olympic silver medalist took the opening round on four of five judges’ scorecards and held on despite receiving a one-point deduction during the bout.
Two judges scored the fight 29-27 for Paalam, while another had it 29-28 in his favor. The other two judges scored it for Sabyrkhan, 30-26 and 29-27.
Sabyrkhan entered the semifinal as the 2025 world champion and 2024 Asian champion.
One fight from gold
Paalam will face Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi in Friday’s gold medal bout.
Yamaguchi reached the final after beating Mongolia’s Bilguunsaikhan Kharhuu by unanimous decision, 5-0.
The final gives Paalam a chance to win the Philippines’ first Asian Games boxing gold since Rey Saludar captured the flyweight title in 2010.
After his semifinal win, Paalam appealed for support from Filipino fans.
“Please support me,” Paalam said. “Pray for us, and hopefully we can get the gold medal soon.”
National team coach Elmer Pamisa said Paalam is ready for the championship fight.
“We can handle whoever is in front of us because Carlo is in good condition,” Pamisa said.
With his semifinal victory, Paalam is assured of a medal and will fight for the gold on Friday.
