Carlo Paalam advances to World Boxing Championship Round of 32

Filipino Olympic silver medalist and boxer Carlo Paalam won via unanimous decision against Hsu Chiao-Chun of Chinese Taipei on Thursday, advancing to the Round of 32 in the men’s 55kg division of the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, England.

Paalam will face Junior Alcantara of the Dominican Republic in the Round of 16 on September 9.

Aside from Paalam, others competing in the tournament include Junmilardo Ogayre (men’s 60kg), Ronald Chavez (men’s 70kg), Riza Pasuit (women’s 60kg), Mark Ashley Fajardo (men’s 65kg), and Jay Bryan Baricuatro (men’s 50kg).

Ofelia Magno was also supposed to compete in the event but pulled out of the tournament, like othe boxers around the world.

According to ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo, in the boxing body’s social media post, Magno pulled out “because her genetic sex test results didn't come out before the draw. We had to get her test done here upon arrival (organizers arranged for it) because such test is not available in the Philippines. I think World Boxing has to be strict with the eligibility criteria because of the controversies in the Paris Olympics that has resulted in appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”

—JKC, GMA Integrated News