CARLO PAALAM wanted to beat Galal Yafai at his own game. In the 52kgs Olympic final on Saturday (August 7) he had wanted to meet Yafai head on and force the Briton on to the backfoot. But Yafai was faster, more aggressive and even put the Filipino down in the first round. โIf not for the knockdown, I could have made a fight of it, but credit to my opponent. I had a game plan to pressure him, to cut the ring off and to trap him. But I got hit by a solid shot and I tried to recover. I got up and tried to make a fight of it but he had my number,โ Paalam reflected. โMy opponent was very good and I had this Olympic dream. I tried to impose my spirit on him, but he won.โ
Paalam still receives an impressive silver medal. โThe silver medal symbolises what I went through because when I was a young boy, I was a scavenger and I collected junk and garbage. I know this medal is made out of recycled materials, and I can identify with it because it is also made from waste material and garbage,โ Paalam said.
Yafaiโs performance on the biggest stage makes him a star of the future. โItโs a massive day for me.ย Being Olympic champion is something Iโve always dreamed of since I was young, and Iโve managed to do it today. Iโm overwhelmed and being an Olympic champion will live with me forever,โ he said. โIโm Olympic champion now. You know what, it sounds crazy saying, ‘Iโm Olympic champion’. It hasnโt sunk in yet but Iโm sure it will soon.
โOlympic champion, man, itโs crazy. You donโt really get much of a smile out of me, but Iโm over the moon now.โ
He managed to keep himself grounded even going into the biggest contest of his life. โTo me itโs just another fight. I know itโs an Olympic final but I go into every fight to beat whoโs in front of me,โ he said.
Dropping Paalam was a crucial moment. He wanted that first round, he wanted to take the lead and defend it. โWhen someone is in an Olympic final you know you are going to be up against it,โ Galal said. โI was a bit overwhelmed to put him down, but I knew that would get me the round. [Paalam] is a great fighter and showed determination to get back up.
โI just wanted to capitalise on that lead and I managed to do that, so thank God it works out for me.โ
The next natural step will be to turn professional. His old brothers are already pro boxers, Kal Yafai has held the WBA super-flyweight belt while Gamal became European champion. โNow Iโm Olympic champion Iโm not really looking too much into the future. I think my Olympic cycle is done now. I want to be world champion as a professional,โ he said. โIโll have a rest now. Obviously everyone wants to turn pro. Iโve been amateur for a long time, been to two Olympic Games, Iโm Olympic champion now.
โI think itโs a big thing that everyone wants to do, but Iโm just going to have a rest at the minute and spend time with family and friends and just soak it all in.
โBut this means everything at the moment now.โ