By REY C.LACHICA
PARIS – It’s business as usual for boxer Carlo Paalam a day after removing one of the thorns in his journey back to Olympic glory.
Paalam ought to.
There are others who are as ready and determined like him to reach the pinnacle of success.
“Kailangan preparado parati, Olympics ito, kaya lahat magagaling,” said Paalam who is set to face Australian fourth seed Charlie Senior in the round-of-16n of the men’s 57kg in the Paris Olympics on Friday, Aug. 3, at the North Paris Arena.
His masterful win over Jude Gallagher, a young and aggressive fighter from Ireland, provided a whiff of fresh air to the entire PH delegation after sinking low due to the defeats suffered by Tokyo Games bronze medalist Eumir Marcial and rookie boxer Hergie Bacyadan one after another.
In that fight, Paalam did his job like a brain surgeon – methodical and precise.
He will try to do it again the 22-year-old Senior who enjoys big advantage in height – six inches to be exact.
The 5-foot-4 Paalam, however, needs to be more patient although they have already studied the movements of the dancer-turned-boxer who had already 59 bouts since he started competing 10 years.
He was described as orthodox but Paalam, and even his coach, Elmer Pamisa, are not bothered at all.
In the eyes of Pamisa, Gallagher is better than Senior. Period.
POC big boss Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino even said: “Tuloy tuloy nay an.”
Like Paalam, Senior is coming off an impressive win over Belarussian Vasile Usturoi.
