Metro Manila, Philippines The first major action of the day came in the Philippines where promotional giant ALA Promotions put on Pinoy Pride 30. The show was the first blockbuster event from the Philippines this year and featured 4 major title bouts, including a world title contest. The card began with the unbeaten Ralph Jhon Lulu (11-0-2, 5) struggling past the limited Gerry Patieno (4-8-2, 2) in an unconvincing performance from the unbeaten man. The bout saw Lulu take a 4 round majority decision but not really impressing anyone. The other 4 rounder on the show was much more impressive as the exciting Joepher Montano (3-0, 2) stopped Australian visitor Tyson Maher (0-2) in a really enjoyable contest. Montano may only be at the start of his career but it's clear he's going to be a lot of fun to follow, win or lose. In an 8 rounder fans saw the heavy handed Jeson Umbal (8-3, 6) drop Eric Panza (7-4-1, 1) twice en route to a close decision win. The knockdowns were the difference between a unanimous decision win for Umbal and a majority decision draw between the two men where well matched to say the least. The other 8 rounder was less well matched as AJ Banal (33-2-1, 22) clearly and easily over-came Indonesian visitor Junior Bajawa (14-6, 7). Banal was bothered in later rounds following a headclash but dominated the fight and took home a very wide decision win. The first of the show's title bouts saw ALA's newest international signing, Ryo Akaho (26-1-2, 18), in action. Akaho claimed the WBO International Bantamweight title with relative ease as he destroyed the under-sized and under-skilled Prosper Ankrah (24-5-0-1, 15) in the 4th round of their bout. Ankrah had some success but never enough to make Akaho respect him and it always seemed like Ankrah was fighting to survive than to win. This victory for Akaho was his 7th since he was beaten by Yota Sato in a WBC Super Flyweight title bout back in 2012 and it looks like Akaho is now ready for another shot at world honours. Arguably the stand out performance came from promising youngster Albert Pagara (23-0, 16), who looked sensational as he defended his IBF Inter-Continental Super Bantamweight title against the heavy handed but limited Rodolfo Hernandez (26-6-1, 24). Pagara dropped Hernandez in the opening round then dominated him until the end of round 4. Hernandez then remained in his corner citing an injury with his hand, though it looked more like a case of “get me out of here” from the Mexican. In the co-feature of the show fans saw the return to the Philippines of the popular Nonito Donaire (34-3, 22) who had a showcase win against the hapless William Prado (22-5-1, 15). Prado had only been stopped by WBA Super Bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, in 3 rounds, prior to this but Donaire dismantled him in just a couple of rounds. Prado landed little through out the bout and looked distraught every time Donaire caught him. With this win Donaire claimed the NABF Super Bantamweight title and is now expected to move towards a world title bout at Super Bantamweight. In the main event fans saw long term world champion Donnie Nietes (35-1-4, 21) successfully retain his WBO Light Flyweight title with an impressive victory over the dangerous Gilberto Parra (19-3, 17). Nietes started fast and looked to be trying to make a statement early on. Parra saw out the early storm and fought gallantly in the middle rounds, particularly round 6. Sadly however for the challenger a knockdown in round 8 was the start of the end and he retired after the 9th round after suffering a nasty cut around the left eye. Prior to the retirement he was always looking second best and appeared to know it spending several rounds trying to avoid a fight with excellent champion. Yucatán, Mexico We had another world title bout in Mexico where the diminutive Rommel Asenjo (26-4, 20) took on the sensational Juan Francisco Estrada (32-2, 23). Sadly for Asenjo this never looked like it was going to go his way and although he was competitive in a very quiet opening round that was about the only positive he could take from the bout. In round 2 Estrada moved into third gear and appeared capable of battering Asenjo at will. The challenger came out for round 3 though less than a minute into the round his corner threw in the towel in a disappointing ending to the bout. The conclusion was less than great though Asenjo's face was already beginning to look a swollen mess courtesy of Estrada's power which was having an effect every time he landed. Thailand In a low profile show in Thailand fans got the chance to see two former world title challengers both pick up decision wins. One of those men was Samartlek Kokietgym (20-5, 5) who over-came the experienced but limited Jack Amisa (20-35-2, 14). For Samartlek this was a third straight win since he came up short in a WBC Light Flyweight title fight against Naoya Inoue, though it seems clear that he's much more comfortable at this level The other winner was the highly experienced Pigmy Kokietgym (56-7-2, 22) who over-came Heri Amol (35-23-4, 14). This was Pigmy's 4th bout since he came up short last year against Hekkie Budler in a WBA title fight in Monaco. Queensland, Australia In Australia there was a trio of Thai's in action. The highest profile of those Thail's was Chaiyong Sithsaithong (36-13-4, 26) who came up short against Paul Fleming (20-0, 13) in a bout for the WBO Oriental Super Featherweight title. Sithsaithong managed to see out the 10 round schedule here against the talented but did see a 4-fight winning run come to an end. In one of the main support bouts Wisanlek Sithsaithong (11-7, 7) was stopped, in 4 rounds, by Australian Jason Cooper (13-2-1, 7). For Cooper this was a 5th successive win following his 2014 loss to Qiu Xiao Jun whilst the Thai was stopped for the 5th time in his career. Also on this card fans had the chance to see professional loser Pramool Boonpok (1-13-1) pick up another defeat as Australian fighter Reuben Aiono (2-0-1, 1) took a 5 round decision win. (Image courtesy of boxingnews.jp)
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This past Saturday wasn't the biggest day in Asian boxing but it was an interesting one with a lot of fights and plenty of recognisable names in action
Davao Del Sur, Philippines The bulk of the Asian action on Saturday came from the Philippines where Sonshine Sports promoted a very deep and long card with numerous big names on it. Sadly a lot of those bigger names were matched very softly. The biggest mismatch, at least on paper, saw former WBC Minimumweight title challenger Denver Cuello (34-5-6, 22) have a field day with Thailand's horribly over-matched Jaipetch Chaiyonggym (3-2, 2). Cuello, fighting for the first time since his loss to Xiong Zhao Zhong last year, repeatedly tagged the Thai with lefts upstairs which left some nasty damage on Jaipetch's face and everntually forced him to retire. The bout was a mismatch but it was a clear tune up for Cuello who has been inactive and injured recently and needed a soft touch in all honesty. Cuello was one of 3 fighters expected to take part in title bouts next time out. Another was IBO Light Flyweigth champion Rey Loreto (19-13, 11) who did what was needed to stop Indonesian journeyman Heri Amol (34-20-4, 14). Amol, fighting for the 58th time, was stopped for just the 7th time as Loreto scored a tune up win ahead of his first title defence, scheduled for December. The third title level fighter was former IBO Super Flyweight champion Edrin Dapudong (30-6, 18) who scored a 5th round TKO against Wisanlek Sithsaithong (11-6, 6). We're now expecting Dapudong to rematch Lwandile Sityatha in an attempt to regain his IBO title, possibly before the year is out. A third big puncher in action in a 10 rounder was Lorenzo Villanueva (27-1-0-1, 24) who forced a doctors stoppage victory over Gadwin Tubigon (10-11-2, 5) with Tubigon's face looking a real mess from a suspected broken nose. The only other 10 rounder saw Rolando Magbanua (24-2, 16) quickly get rid of Joel Escol (8-16-3, 5) in just 113 seconds. Cuello wasn't the only former world title challenger on the show and former WBO Minimumweight title challenger Rommel Asenjo (26-3, 21) was also in action. Surprisingly however Asenjo really struggled as he took a majority decision over Powell Balaba (8-12-1, 5) in a very narrow 8 rounder. Another 8 rounder to go the distance saw Jelbirt Gomera (7-0, 4) out point Jhun Ryan Quimbo (4-6-1) whilst Jake Bornea (7-1, 3) out pointed Rogen Flores (13-25-5, 6). The only 8 rounder not to go the distance saw Robert Udtohan (22-1-2, 14) take out the over-matched Renz Llagas (6-7-1, 4) in the 3rd round. We also saw just a single stoppage in the 6 rounders as Ryan Lumacad (7-0-1, 4) returned from a notable break and took out Robert Awetin (5-18-2, 5) in 3 rounds. In the other 6 rounders we saw Roskie Cristobal (9-0, 7) get taken the distance, unexpectedly, by Rolly Llino (5-13-1, 2) whilst Jamie Quitariano (2-2, 1) took a decision over Bryan Samson (4-4, 2) In the 4 rounders we saw the debut of the much touted Jade Bornea (1-0, 1) who needed just 123 seconds to welcome himself to professional boxing with a quick and impressive victory over the previously unbeaten Mark Baribar (2-1-1). The other 4 rounder saw Michael Bravo (6-1, 1) take a decision over Saddam Barambangan (3-7-1, 2). Victoria, Australia Down under we saw two other Asian fighters in action and unfortunately both were defeated inside the distance. The more recognisable of the two was Filipino journeyman Aswin Cabuy (14-48-4, 7) who suffered his 21st stoppage loss after retiring at the the end of the second round of his bout with Mitchell Middleton Clark (3-0, 3). From what we under-stand Cabuy was dropped in round 2 and suffered an injury that forced him to retire at the end of the round. The other bout seems to have been more interesting as Iranian debutant Rezvan Khasmafkan (0-1) was stopped in 6 rounds by Steve Attard (5-0-2, 2). Prior to the stoppage we've been told that Khasmafkan landed a MMA style knee was deducted a point. Incidentally Attard has been scheduled to fight in Macau on November 22nd against the Macau Kid Kuok Kun Ng in what appears to be a very interesting contest. London, United Kingdom In the UK we saw Russian Heavyweight journeyman Denis Bakhtov (38-10, 25) being stopped in 2 rounds by Olympic champion Anthony Joshua (9-0, 9). Bakhtov was too small, too slow and too old to make Joshua really work for the win and stopped by the referee part way through the second round as Joshua wailed away with heavy looking shots. |
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