Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam has been assured of a bronze medal after he pummeled 2016 Olympic gold medalist Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in their Tokyo Olympics fly quarterfinals match in Japan, August 3.
Paalam took the first round after impressive connections, earning 10-9 points each among the five judges.
He was leading the second round when the contest was stopped by the referee with 1:16 left due to an accidental head butt, causing both boxers to suffer cuts.
He will battle Japan’s Ryomei Tanaka in the semi-final round for a sure silver on August 5. (Villamor Visaya Jr.)
(Screenshots of judges’ scorecards, courtesy of olympic.com)
