Dominant

Philippines’ Carlo Paalam fights with Indonesia’s Langu Kornelis Kangu during the 30th South East Asian Games 2019 Men’s Light Flyweight Final (46-49 kg). INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon

The Philippines collected an impressive seven boxing gold medals Monday in the 30th Southeast Asian Games as the curtains fell on the boxing competitions at PICC Forum.

Eumir Marcial won via knockout while world champion Nesthy Petecio, Carlo Paalam, Rogen Ladon, Josie Gabuco, Charly Suarez and James Palicte struck gold in their respective divisions.

Marcial scored a knockout against Vietnamese Nguyen Manh Cuong to lead a dominant show by the country’s boxers.

The rest of the finalists won by unanimous decisions.

Gabuco fought through the flu and claimed her fifth SEA Games gold medal after defeating Indonesia’s Endang in the women’s light flyweight division.“I was just telling myself that I will do my best because I trained for this and even though I’m not 100 percent I will show what I can do,” said Gabuco in Filipino.

A 2012 world champion, Gabuco displayed her championship pedigree by landing crucial overhand right hammers down Endang’s temple several times throughout the bout.Paalam, who suffered a controversial loss in the 2017 SEA Games, got his just retribution by winning the gold in the men’s light flyweight division over Kornelis Langu of Indonesia, also via unanimous decision.“I’m really happy because I got robbed in Malaysia (in 2017), so

I thank the Lord for giving me the strength atop the ring,” said Paalam in Filipino.

Ladon was a cool cat and coasted to a similar unanimous decision over Thailand’s Ammarit Yaodam for the men’s flyweight gold, even as Palicte dominated Vietnam’s Van Hai Nguyen in the men’s light welterweight finals for a similar 5-0 win and the fourth gold.

Yaodam had his guard up for most of the match and would sometimes clinch Ladon to the point that the bout nearly looked like a wrestling fight.

“I remained patient because that was his tactic, so I just played my game because if I get frustrated, then that would throw me off,” said Ladon in Filipino.

Palicte, meanwhile, said: “This is my first gold medal so this is very special to me. This is also a gift for my dad, Edmundo.” INQ