The quest for additional Olympic berths to the Paris Summer Games begins for four Filipino boxers, with 2020 Tokyo Olympiad silver medalist Carlo Paalam leading the charge in Bangkok, Thailand.
The winner in the second World Olympic Qualifying Tournament will join early qualifiers worldwide, including Tokyo bronze medal winner Eumir Felix Marcial, Tokyo silver medal winner Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas.
Paalam drew Greece’s Alexeir Lagkazasvili in the 57kg men’s division on May 24, with bouts on May 28, 30, 31 and June 1 and 2, if necessary.
On May 25, Rogen Ladon takes on Rafael Serrano Lozano of Spain in the 51kg class, with succeeding fights on May 30 and 31, and June 2.
Criztian Pitt Laurente climbs the ring in the 63.5 kg category on May 26 against Kazakhstan’s Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbay Uulu, needing a win to stay in contention for bouts on May 28, 29 and 31, and June 1 and 2.
On Day 4 of competition, Hergie Bacyadan gets her chance against Spain’s Dunia Mas Martinez in the 75kg division, with next bouts scheduled on June 1 and 2.
Don Abnett, the Olympic coaching consultant of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP), said Ladon and Bacyadan are in a “good draw.”
ABAP secretary general Marcus Manalo agreed.
“I think we had a good draw overall,” Manalo said. “Pitt Laurente has the most challenging route since his first bout is against a Kazakh. But I fully believe in his capability to get it done.”
The ABAP executive said Paalam “will need to win 5 bouts to secure an Olympic quota, but he is more than ready for it.”
Ladon needs four wins to earn passage and Bacyadan three, said Manalo.
“As I’ve expressed before, these four have very good chance of qualifying here in Bangkok,” he added.
ABAP men’s coach Ronald Chavez said the Filipino boxers can’t afford to be complacent despite the seemingly favorable draw.
“Sa tingin ko maganda ang draw nina Ladon at Hergie pero hindi sila dapat sila makapante kasi lahat yan, nag-prepare. Kina Carlo at Pitt, medyo mabigat pero nakita ko dito na maganda ang kilos nila sa nakaraang sparring nila,” Chavez said,