All or nothing for Pinoy boxers in final qualification tournament


At a glance

  • It's all or nothing for Carlo Paalam and three otherFilipino boxers as they vie for the remaining Paris berths in the finalWorld Qualification Tournament at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand which fires off Friday, May 24.


It's all or nothing for Carlo Paalam and three other Filipino boxers as they vie for the remaining Paris berths in the final World Qualification Tournament at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand which fires off Friday, May 24.

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Carlo Paalam (File photo)

Paalam, Roger Ladon, Chriztian Pitt Laurente and Hergie Bacyadan are determined to secure a spot in their respective category with two months left before the opening of the quadrennial meet.

The 25-year-old Paalam suffered a shoulder injury and bowed out in the men's featherweight Round of 16 in the first qualifying tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy last March. He could have earned an outright berth in the Asian Games last year but yielded in the quarterfinals against an Uzbek fighter.

Paalam targets one of the three remaining slots in his division and is expected to place better this time due to the absence of top boxers who have already booked their tickets to Paris.

On the other hand, Rio Olympian Ladon is set to compete in the men’s flyweight where four qualifying spots are left. Bacyadan, meanwhile, will see action in women's middleweight.

Laurente, who outclassed Mark Ashley Fajardo for the national team spot, will be tested in men's super lightweight where five tickets are up for grabs.

The four pugs will be accompanied by ABAP secretary general Marcus Manalo and coaches Don Abnett, Elmer Pamisa, Reynaldo Galido, Mitchel Martinez, Gerson Nietes and ABAP chairman Ricky Vargas.

The Philippines currently has three qualified boxers in Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio, bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, and Aira Villegas.