Boxer Carlo Paalam moved one step closer to an assured medal in the Paris Olympics men’s 57-kilogram boxing event after beating Irish opponent Jude Gallagher via unanimous decision on Wednesday at the North Paris Arena.

A solid second round was all Paalam needed to depose Gallagher, who showed glimpses of scoring a huge upset against the 2021 silver medalist.

Round 1 was tight as Gallagher went toe-to-toe with Paalam with the latter eventually taking the first three minutes after getting a 10-9 from three judges.

The deciding factor, though, came in the next round as Paalam, banking on his experience and ring generalship, frustrated Gallagher with all five judges giving the round to Paalam.

Gallagher tried to turn things around in the third round and again engaged in a brawl with Paalam, but the Filipino got three judges giving him the final frame.

Jakov Peterson gave the full 30 points to Paalam, while Yermek Suiyenish, Kabilan Sai Ashok, Pavel Pavlov, and Manuel Vilarino all scored the bout 29-28 for the Filipino pug en route to the unanimous decision win.

Only one obstacle remains for Paalam to assure the Philippines of its first medal in the ongoing games: Australian Charlie Senior.

Senior, seeded fourth in the tournament, defeated Belgium’s Vasile Usturoi via a 4-1 split decision to set a quarterfinal date against Paalam.

The winner of the Saturday showdown between Paalam and Senior will enter the semifinals with an assured bronze. (PNA | Ivan Stewart Saldajeno)