Carlo Paalam wins Asian Games boxing silver after split-decision defeat
Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi won the men’s 55kg final, leaving the Philippines without an Asian Games boxing gold since 2010.
Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam earned a silver medal at the 2026 Asian Games after Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi beat him on a split decision in the 55kg men’s title bout on October 2.
The judges were divided three to two. Yamaguchi received scores of 29-28 from each of the three judges who favoured him. The other two gave Paalam the advantage, scoring the contest 29-28 and 30-27.
The result extended the Philippines’ 16-year wait for another boxing gold at the Asian Games. Its most recent gold in the sport came in 2010.
Paalam reached the final by beating India’s Jadumani Singh Mandengbam unanimously in the Round of 16. He then won split decisions against Zhang Jiamao of China in the quarterfinals and Makhmud Sabyrkhan of Kazakhstan in the semifinals.
After the defeat, Paalam said he would move forward, continue doing his best and train, but rest first. The Philippines’ medal tally stood at four golds, six silvers and 15 bronzes.
