By Arvin Migallos

PHOTO: Yahoo News

Filipino boxer Carlo Paalam attained himself a semifinals berth in the flyweight division as he shrugged off Uzbekistan boxer Shakhobidin Zoirov in their quarterfinal bout held at Kokugikan Arena, Japan on Tuesday morning.

Paalam won via 20-18, 20-18, 19-19, 20-18, 20-18, 4-1 split decision over Zoirov.

The duel was halted at the 2nd round's 1:44 mark as the referee noticed an open cut on Zoirov's left eye after the two boxer's accidental headbutt.

In an interview with One Sports, Paalam said that it was his trust in himself and God that strengthen him to win the said fight. He also thanked the people who believed and even those who did not believed in him.



In round one, Carlo went on to a fiery blast as he successfully land left hooks and body blows against Shakhobidin which gave him the judges unanimous vote of 10-9 in favor of the former.

Paalam guarantees the Philippines' 4th Olympic medal and is also the third boxer to achieve such feat in this year's edition of the quadrennial meet.

Zoikov was the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics Flyweight gold medalist and was visually upset of the result while walking out of the ring.