BELIEVE it or not, the knockdown Carlo Paalam sustained in the gold medal bout of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was the first in his career.
Paalam bared on Sunday he has never suffered a knockdown in his career until Saturday when he lost in the gold medal final of the men's flyweight against Galal Yafai of Great Britain.
Despite the loss, the 23-year-old Paalam said he is taking the defeat as a learning experience, a tool he can use in his bid to return to the Paris Olympics in 2024 and win a gold.
“Salamat po kasi naka-experience ko na ma-knockout ako. Malaking bagay po na matuto ako at ma-experience ko ‘yung ganun, bilang boxer,” said Paalam during Sunday’s press conference organized by the Philippine Olympic Committee from Tokyo.
Paalam started the gold medal bout on the wrong foot as a series of blows by Yafai sent the Filipino flyweight down in the first round, forcing the referee to issue a standing eight count.
Carlo Paalam
The Cagayan De Oro native eventually lost via split decision and settled for the silver medal, but not before a gallant attempt to make up for that knockdown during the last two rounds of the bout.
Paalam joined fellow boxer Nesthy Petecio as the country's silver medalists in Tokyo, while another fighter in Eumir Marcial accounted for a bronze.
“Never ako na-knockdown po eh sa buong pagboboxing ko. ‘Yun ang first. Salamat din po na dito Niya pina-experience ito sa Olympics. Malaking bagay po na matuto pa ako,” said Paalam.
After his first-ever Olympic campaign, Paalam already indicated he will seek another shot at gold medal in Paris in three years time, and will not be eyeing a stint in the professional ranks.
“I-improve ko pa po ‘yung kulang ko po dito at tiwala sa sarili at bigyan ako ng kumpiyansa. Malaking bagay po ito kasi na-experience ko po kung ano ang mag-Olympics. Sana po, mahigitan ko pa po at bigyan ako ng Panginoon ng malusog na katawan,” he added.
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