Paalam and Yafai settled in a split decision as four judges voted 29-28 in favor of Yafai and the other one in favor of Paalam.

The 23-year-old Paalam rallied all out as the 28-year-old Yafai started succumbing to Carlo by knocking him down first in the first down at 1:43. Nevertheless, Paalam got a hold of round 2.

Paalam gave it all in the ring, trying to equate Yafai’s domination but all odds turned against his favor and finished the finals, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28, 29-28, 29-28.

“Di naman maiwasan na ganun mangyari. Nilabas ko nalang po talaga yung best ko. Kita niyo naman na lumalaban ako. Alam ko na ang pusong Pilipino palaban po,” Paalam said. 

“Siguro wala na tayong mahihingi pa kay Carlo. Binigay niya ang lahat, hindi lang tayo pinalad,” said secretary-general Ed Picson of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP).

Nevertheless, Paalam being the youngest in the Philippine boxing team and to revel in a silver medal in the Summer Games is already a great feat in which he sees this medal as a symbol of his life.

“This medal is a symbol of my life,” Paalam said, who came from nothing. “That’s where I drew my strength from to get this. I’m really grateful to God because this medal changed my life.” 

Carlo is set to receive a total of P17 million from the Philippine government and private companies.

“This will change my life,” Paalam said.