HANGZHOU, China – “I have so much respect for Carlo Paalam.”

That was Abdumalk Khalakov of Uzbekistan said through an interpreter after beating the Tokyo Games silver medal winner, 5-0, in their 57 kg quarterfinal bout Tuesday night, Oct. 4, at the Hangzhou gymnasium.

The reigning world and Asian champion exploited his height advantage to the max with Paalam being new to the weight division.

Paalam captured his silver medal in the Tokyo Games while fighting for the 54kg.

And that gave the Uzbek then the opportunity to put on a masterclass performance with his fancy footwork and excellent body and head combinations.

With Paalam's defeat, it left Eumir Marcial as the only man standing for the PH boxing team following defeat of fellow Olympians Nesthy Petecio and Irish Magno.

Despite the obvious stats sheet he lost in all the judges, Paalam said there was nothing to be ashamed of his performance.

“Lahat ng mga tinalo lo rito puro world champions layab wala akong pinagsisihan dahil talaga ginawa ko ang best ko.

Early on, Paalam waged a brave stand against his wily and taller rival, but he was reduced to a mere target.

Paalam was defiant in defeat, though. 

“Ubusan kami ng talino sa ring talaga. Sobrang ganda at happy ako sa laro ko,” said the pride of  Cagayan de Oro City. 

“Blessing din sa akin kasi hindi rin ako basta-basta sa kanila, takot din sila,” he said of his opponents in what had been a stacked featherweight division.

He also fell short of mirroring his bronze medal feat in the Jakarta edition five years ago.

For Paalam, the defeat means he has to see action in the World Championships if he is to get another shot at the Paris Olympics next year.