Asian Games: PH boxers Paalam, Marcial enter quarterfinals

Carlo Paalam of the Philippines (in blue) fights tags Taiwan’s Tu Powei (in red) with a right in their men’s light fly (49kg) round of 16 boxing match at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta on August 27, 2018. AFP PHOTO / BAY ISMOYO

Filipino fighters Carlo Paalam and Eumir Felix Marcial breathed life into the Philippines’ flat-lining medal bid in boxing in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Paalam and Marcial both scored emphatic victories to advance to the quarterfinals in their respective divisions.

Marcial forced a referee stoppage in the second round to beat Kuok Kun Ng of Macao in the men’s 75-kg while Paalam dominated Powei Tu of Chinese Taipei, 5-0, in their light flyweight duel.

Three Filipinos are now in the quarters after flyweight Rogen Ladon also booked his slot on Sunday that stopped Philippine boxing’s string of setbacks in the continental showcase.

Nesthy Petecio, Joel Bacho, James Palicte, Irish Magno and Mario Fernandez, who got knocked out by his Iraqi foe, have all faltered early.