Injury fells Paalam foe
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 25 Jul 2021
Thitisan Panmod.
A freak accident in the ring has struck out Thai boxing contender Thitisan Panmod from competing in the men’s flyweight division at the Tokyo Olympics, leaving 27 hopefuls in the fray, including Filipino Carlo Paalam. Action in the 52 kilogram class begins with the Round of 32 on July 26. The Round of 16 is set on July 31, quarterfinals on Aug. 3, semifinals on Aug. 5 and final on Aug. 7.
ABAP secretary-general Ed Picson said the tragedy happened during a sparring session between Thitisan and Paalam at the Muak Lek training camp in Saraburi province over a week ago. Both the Thai and Philippine boxing teams had been in the same camp for months but Picson said the Thais’ Cuban coach Omar Fuentes never matched Thitisan and Paalam in sparring until the Philippines’ Australian coach Don Abnett insisted. Last April, the Filipinos and Thais engaged in a two-day boxfest with Thitisan opting to sit out while another boxer Wuttichai Yurachai faced Paalam and lost.
“The Thais finally agreed to spar Thitisan with Carlo,” related Picson. “Unfortunately, Thitisan suffered an ACL tear in his left knee and has been ruled out of the Olympics. It happened after Carlo landed a shot to the body. Thitisan’s knees buckled and as he was about to go down, he struggled to keep his balance and stay on his feet. That was when he twisted his knee. We’re sorry it happened. Actually, Thitisan had been sparring with one of our fighters Rogen Ladon in the Thai camp but never Carlo. Rogen is a Rio Olympian and we brought him to Thailand to work with Carlo.”
Paalam, who turned 23 last Friday, made it to Tokyo as the highest-ranked Asian available via the continental quota allocation after five Asians and Australia’s Alex Winwood booked tickets at the Asia/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Amman last March. Among the Asian qualifiers is India’s Amit Panghal, Paalam’s nemesis. Paalam lost a 3-2 decision to Panghal in the semifinals of the 2018 Asian Games, bowed to the Indian 4-1 in the quarterfinals of the 2019 World Championships and was beaten again 4-1 in the second round of the Olympic qualifiers.
Picson said the country’s four boxing qualifiers Paalam, middleweight Eumir Marcial, women’s featherweight Nesthy Petecio and women’s flyweight Irish Magno are all serious medal contenders. They’re now in Tokyo with Abnett, women’s coach Boy Velasco, men’s coach Ronald Chavez and assistants Reynaldo Galido and Elmer Pamisa.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Women’s Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Michael Linde rules Pangasinan chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 MARCH 2026: Navarrete Stops Nunez; Parra Jnr Outpoints Pierce; Wins by Emiliano Vargas and Abel Ramos
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Mar 2026Team Philippines Crowned Champions of the 2026 Predator WPA Teams World Championship
Wed, 04 Mar 2026IBA President Umar Kremlev calls for radical reform of the Olympic Movement and equal rights for athletes
Wed, 04 Mar 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Boxing—A Spectacle of Masses and Millennial Stages
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Golden Boy Promotions Vs Virgil Ortiz Jr going to arbitration?
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Tue, 03 Mar 2026Boxlab Promotions Signs Undefeated Nicaraguan Knockout Artist Jordan “La Cobrita” Orozco
Tue, 03 Mar 2026STACKED MARCH 14 UNDERCARD SHOWCASES GOLDEN BOY’S NEXT GENERATION OF CHAMPIONS
Tue, 03 Mar 2026The Perfect Boxing Prospect 12-0 Marco Romero
Tue, 03 Mar 2026Quietly formidable boxers Kristian Prenga & Pyrce Taylor continue Their assault on the heavyweight division
Tue, 03 Mar 2026