MANILA, Philippines — Carlo Paalam outclassed Ramish Rahmani of Afghanistan yesterday to barge into the quarterfinals of the light flyweight division in the Asia Oceania Olympic boxing qualifier at the Prince Hamzeh Hall in Amman, Jordan.
Paalam, 21, will next face an old, familiar foe in top seed Amit Panghal of India tomorrow for a chance to claim a spot to the Tokyo Games this July.
The Cagayan de Oro bet will gun for his first win over Amit, who defeated the former in the 2019 World Championship in Yekaterinburg, Russia and 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
Amit earlier made it through by surviving upset-conscious Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu of Mongolia via split decision.
Thanks to Paalam’s triumph, the seven-member Phl squad is now five of six after reigning world women’s champion Nesthy Petecio, men’s World Championship silver medalist Eumir Felix Marcial, Ian Clark Bautista and Riza Pasuit marched into the quarters ahead of him.
Only James Palicte fell short after succumbing to Inur Abduraimov of Uzbekistan Thursday night.
Filipina Irish Magno was battling Au Yin Yin Winnie of Hong Kong at press time.