Charlie Senior, Australian boxer

Australian boxer Charlie Senior will face the Philippines’ Carlo Paalam in a bid to secure a medal in the men’s 57kg event in the quarter-finals of the Paris 2024 Olympics boxing tournament on Saturday.

In boxing, two bronze medals are awarded. The two losing semi-finalists each receive a bronze. If Charlie Seniors wins the quarters bout at the North Paris Arena, he will be guaranteed a medal.

“I can go all the way,” said Senior after his opening match earlier this week. “That’s why we are all here. Next fight is the bronze fight but I have not come here for a bronze medal. I’ve come here for gold.”

The Charlie Senior vs Carlo Paalam fight will start at 8:15 PM AEST and will be available to watch live in Australia.

The 22-year-old Charlie Senior, seeded fourth in Paris, comes into the match after beating 2022 European boxing champion Vasile Usturoi of Belgium by a 4:1 split decision.

Carlo Paalam, meanwhile, defeated Commonwealth Games champion Jude Gallagher of Ireland by unanimous decision.

Charlie Senior, an orthodox boxer, made his Olympic debut in Paris while Carlo Paalam competed at Tokyo 2020 three years ago and won a silver medal in the flyweight division (48-52kg).

Charlie Senior sealed his boxing quota at the Pacific Games last year after defeating Allan Oaike of Papua New Guinea in the final to take the title.

Carlo Paalam, who was the flag-bearer for the Philippines at the Opening Ceremony last week, obtained his quota at the 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok Thailand in June.

At Tokyo 2020, notably, Paalam beat Olympians Brendan Irvine of Ireland and Mohamed Flissi of Algeria in his opening two rounds. He then defeated Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist and flyweight world champion Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan.

In the semis, Paalam overcame Ryomei Tanaka of Japan before going down to Great Britain’s Galal Yafai in the final.

Australia had sent a record 12-member boxing team to the Olympics. Only two remain in contention – Charlie Senior and Caitlin Parker (women’s 75). Of the remaining 10, nine were ousted in their respective opening matches.