FILIPINO boxer Carlo Paalam began his final push for a Paris Olympics slot by defeating Greek Alexie Lagkazasvili via unanimous decision in the second World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday evening.

All five judges favored Paalam in the men's 57-kilogram (kg) class round of 32 match.

A Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, Paalam needs to finish at least in third place in this boxing final Olympic qualifying event to book his Olympiad return.

Paalam could not secure his Paris Games berth through the first two pathways — the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in October last year and the first World Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy, last March.

The 25-year-old could not reach the Asian Games finals, which merits an Olympic slot as he bowed out in the quarterfinal round.

Paalam then surrendered in the second round of his last 16 bout in the first World Olympic Qualifying Tournament against Great Britain's Kiaran MacDonald due to a shoulder injury he sustained in his previous bout against Mexico's Andrey Bonilla.

Paalam looks to join teammates Eumir Marcial, Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, who have already punched their tickets to the Paris Games.

Rio Olympian Rogen Ladon, as well as Criztian Pitt Laurente and Hergie Bacyadan, are also gunning for Paris Olympics berths.

Ladon opens his bid against Spain's Rafael Serrano Lozano in the 51-kg class round of 32 on May 25, while Laurente starts his against Kazakhstan's Mukhammedsabyr Bazarbay Uulu in the men's 63.5-kg round of 32 on May 26.

Ladon has to finish at least fourth in his division while Laurente at least fifth in his class to make it to Paris.

Bacyadan, meanwhile, will start her Olympic bid on May 27 against Spain's Dunia Martinze in the women's 75-kg division round of 16, where the top four finishers will be rewarded with Olympic slots.

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