Gallant Carlo Paalam settles for silver in split decision loss to British foe

Carlo Paalam put up a gallant stand but ultimately fell to Galal Yafai of Great Britain to settle for silver in the men’s flyweight final round of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Saturday at the Kokugikan Arena.

Paalam had to come back from an early knockdown and an eight-count from the referee after getting caught on the ropes and taking a one-two combination from Yafai.

Despite that, he finished the first round strong, and stayed in it despite it being a 10-9 for the Brit from all five judges.

He did better in the second round but his tough opponent was still able to win the round, though Paalam was able to win over one of the judges, who had it 19-19 after the second round.

With Yafai comfortably in the lead, though, he could afford to slow down in the third.

The 23-year-old Paalam won the final round, but lost via split decision, 4-1.

Paalam outclassed hometown bet Ryomei Tanaka of Japan in the semifinals last Thursday via a unanimous decision to secure his place in the finals.

Even with the loss, he takes home a silver medal, matching the best result of any Filipino boxer in the Olympics.

It also the third medal of the Philippine boxing delegation in Tokyo, after Nesthy Petecio's silver in the women's featherweight event and Eumir Marcial's bronze in the men's middleweight.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News