Carlo Paalam, Junmilardo Ogayre notch wins as Ofelia Magno, others disqualified at World Boxing Championships

Team Philippines’ campaign at the 2025 World Boxing Championships opened with both triumph and heartbreak as Carlo Paalam and Junmilardo Ogayre scored convincing victories, while women’s flyweight Ofelia Magno was disqualified due to an unresolved genetic sex test, September 5.

ABAP secretary-general Marcus Manalo confirmed that Magno could not be cleared in time for the official draw, explaining that the required test was unavailable in the Philippines and had to be administered only upon their arrival in Liverpool.

Despite the setback, the Filipinos drew early momentum inside the ring. 

Paalam, the Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, proved sharp in his return to the global stage, dismantling Chinese Taipei’s Hsu Chiao-Chun for a 5-0 sweep in the men’s 55kg Round of 64.

All five judges ruled in favor of the 27-year-old, handing him scores of 30-26, 30-27, 30-25, 30-27, and 30-26. He advances to face Junior Alcantara of the Dominican Republic in the Round of 32 on September 7.

In the men’s 60kg division, Ogayre joined him in the Last 32 after dictating the tempo against Lai Chu-En of Chinese Taipei en route to a 5-0 unanimous decision. Ogayre next tests his mettle against Kazakhstan’s Biibars Zhexen.

Other Filipino bets have also stepped into the ring. Mark Ashley Fajardo (65kg) and Jay Bryan Baricuatro (50kg) debuted in the preliminaries, while Ronald Chavez Jr. is slated to face Ireland’s Matthew McCole in the men’s 70kg class on September 6. 

Riza Pasuit, meanwhile, carries the women’s campaign forward when she clashes with Saudi Arabia’s Ragad Alnaimi on Sunday, September 7.

With Magno sidelined, the Philippines now banks on its remaining six fighters to keep the country’s medal hopes alive in Liverpool.