By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Carlo Paalam and Mark Ashley Fajardo flexed their might right away, scoring convincing wins at the start of the the Boxam Elite Tournament in La Nucia, Spain on Tuesday, Jan. 30.
Paalam, a silver medalist in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, whipped Mexican Miguel Fernando Vega, 4-1, to advance to the quarterfinals of the men’s -57kg event.
His victory arranged him a meeting with Ewart Andres Marin Hernandez, who also scored a 4-1 win over France’s Samuel Kistohurry.
Fajardo, who debuted at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last September, was equally ruthless as he mauled Belgian Yassine Arfa for a 5-0 decision to advance to the second round of the men’s 63.5kg class.
The Cebuano standout, however, will have his hands full as he clashes with two-time national champion Cameron McKay of England, who earned an opening round bye.
Other Filipinos competing in the tournament are Rogen Ladon (men’s 51kg), Ronald Chavez Jr. (men’s 71kg), Aira Villegas (women’s 50kg), Nesthy Petecio (women’s 57kg), Riza Pasuit (women’s (60kg) and Hergie Bacyadan (women’s 75kg).
Petecio, another Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, is set to clash with France’s Sthelyne Grosy in the opening round of the small eight-player field, while Pasuit is scheduled to meet Kazakhstan’s Aidana Zhabynbekova also in the first round.
Ladon, Chavez, Villegas and Bacyadan, meanwhile, earned opening round byes.
The tournament is part of the PH team’s preparations for the qualifiers for the 2024 Olympics. So far, Eumir Marcial is the lone boxer already qualified to Paris.
