FILE–Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / POOL / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Filipinos Carlo Paalam and Junmilardo Ogayre scored dominant wins to get their campaign going in the 74th Strandja International Boxing Tournament on Tuesday in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Paalam secured a spot in the quarterfinals after outclassing Enver Muzaffer of Turkey, 5-0, in the 54kg bantamweight class.
Ogayre, meanwhile, wasted little time in taking care of his first assignment after stopping Riad Labidi of France in the second round of their men’s 57kg featherweight bout.
The 24-year-old Paalam, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, arranged a quarterfinals clash with Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov.
But while Paalam and Ogayre celebrated, James Palicte tasted defeat at the hands of Assan Hansen of Germany, 4-1, in the men’s lightweight division.
Palicte joined Nesthy Petecio as the early casualties for the Philippines in the tournament.
Petecio, who is also a silver medal winner at the Tokyo Games, took a stunning loss to Sandra Kruk of Poland in women’s featherweight on Monday.