KANG BEATS MANGUBAT CAPPING A WEEKEND OF FILIPINO LOSSES OVERSEAS

​By Rene Bonsubre,Jr

Jong Seon Kang of South Korea survived an early knockdown to beat Filipino Tomjune Mangubat for the vacant WBO Oriental Youth Featherweight title in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

After a tentative start by both boxers, the 18 year old Korean was dropped by a counter hook in the second. The Filipino moved in for the kill but Kang weathered the storm and started to pressure Mangubat in the subsequent rounds.

Kang began to dictate the tempo, forcing Mangubat on the back foot. Mangubat tried to put some sanity into the situation with his long jab and one-two combos. But Kang had no trouble cutting off the ring and would rough up Mangubat every chance he got. The crowd enjoyed the heavy exchanges.

Mangubat wilted in the endgame; Kang’s pressure and volume punching sapped the Cebu-based boxer and the Korean did enough to earn the nod of two of the three judges, all from Thailand.

Mekin Sumon and Sawaeng Thaweekoon had it for Kang 96-93, Surat Soikrachang had it 95-94 for Mangubat.

This was the 22 year old Mangubat’s second career loss. He is now 11-2-1,9KO’s. He was considered a good prospect here in Cebu,Philippines simply because of his height, build and natural power. But last May, Mangubat suffered his first career loss against fellow Fiipino Arnel Baconaje in Mandaue City,Cebu for the WBC ABCO Silver featherweight belt by TKO in the eighth round. He bounced back last July with a unanimous decision victory over Joffrey Garcia in Liloan,Cebu. Kang was Mangubat’s first foreign opponent and this was also his first outing overseas.

Kang is now 10-0-2,6KO’s. He was 1W- 2D in his last three bouts but the win was for the vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental super featherweight title, which he earned by beating Chinese Qixiu Zhang by fifth round TKO in Xian,China.

This weekend was marked by a string of losses for Filipino boxers abroad. The most prominent happened in Las Vegas on the undercard of Canelo Alvarez vs Sergey Kovalev.

In a battle of high profile hard-hitting prospects – Filipino Romero Duno was decked in 1:38 seconds of the opening round by Ryan Garcia of the U.S. for the WBO NABO and WBC Silver lightweight belts.

This was the second loss for Duno (21-2,16KO’s) while Garcia remained unbeaten at 19-0,16KO’s.

In another blitz attack, Xavier Martinez of the U.S. knocked out Filipino Jessie Cris Rosales in only 21 seconds in a Las Vegas card held Friday.Filipinos Recky Dulay and Elias Joaquino also suffered losses in that same card.

Filipino Esneth Domingo did snatch a win on the Kang-Mangubat undercard but Ponciano Remandiman lost. In Japan yesterday, Filipinos KJ Natuplag and Eranio Semellano lost to heir Japanese opponents.

Photo - Jong Seon Kang of South Korea during the weigh-in

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