ROACH IMPRESSED WITH NEW FILIPINO BOXING PROTEGE

Baguio City - Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach started his training program with his new Filipino boxing protege, undefeated featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, at the Coyeesan Shape-Up Boxing Gym Wednesday and after four rounds of mitts sparring described the 24-year-old southpaw from North Cotabato as "impressive."

Villanueva, 21 wins with 20 KOs, becomes only the second Filipino boxer to be currently handled by Roach, widely acknowledged as one of boxing's best trainers. Roach is in the Philippines to start the first phase of the training program for his favorite boxer, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao who will figure in a third bout with Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez.

"I don't want to be excessive with my praises but this boy learns fast, disciplined and he definitely packs power," proudly told Pacquiao of his new ward. Pacquiao arrived at the Coyeesan Gym to work out shortly after Roach finished his first training session with Villanueva.

The 5' 7" tall orphan, who Roach said is tall for a featherweight, was brought up to Baguio City by former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol who is Villanueva's manager. He was presented to the American trainer for the first time in the plosh The Manor Wednesday morning in the presence of Baguio City businessman Jay Sobrepena.

"Don't be too shy," Roach told Villanueva after he noticed that the fighter from the southern Philippine island of Mindanao would just meekly smile and bow his head as the American trainer and Pinol discussed the training plans for the Filipino southpaw widely touted as a bright prospect for Philippine boxing.

The first training session at the Coyeesan Gym was supposed to start at 1:30 p.m. but Villanueva and his group were at the gym at 12:30 p.m. 

After four rounds of shadow boxing, Roach asked Villanueva to get up the ring with him and started a mitts sparring session which lasted for four rounds.

Roach started demonstrating to Villanueva the techniques to shorten his punches and move his body. He appeared impressed as the World Boxing Oriental Featherweight champion easily implemented the moves that the American training wanted him to do.

After four rounds of mitts sparring, Roach got off the ring with a thumbs up sign and a big smile on his face.

"It's a bit too early to say this but this boy could make it. He has the power and the discipline and he learns fast," Roach said.

Roach said he expects to bring Villanueva back to the United States with him to continue his training program at the famed Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood, California.

Villanueva, along with Braveheart Boxing Club assistant trainer Bruce Lerio, will stay in Baguio City for about three weeks and train alongside Manny Pacquiao in his high-altitude training program.(pr)

Controversial Agbeko-Mares fight via Bigtime Bakbakan on AKTV on IBC

Pinoy boxing fans get a chance to watch the hugely controversial IBF bantamweight title fight  between Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko which Mares won by a split decision and where referee Russel Mora came under bitter criticism for his failure to penalize Mares for several patently low blows.

The fight which took place at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas can be seen on Sunday on AKTV on IBC channel 13 starting at 7 pm.

Showtime commentator Al Bernstein called Mora’s performance in the ring “the most disgraceful performance of a referee that I have seen in the past 15 years.”

WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire branded Mora who refereed his fight against Fernando Montiel when he allowed the Mexican to continue after he was dropped and was in no condition to go on, “a horrible referee.”

Donaire said he was ready to face Mares if rival promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy “want to make it happen I’m always ready to fight him. I don’t mind whoever they put in front of me. If they want to get Mares, I don’t mind.”

International Boxing Federation president Daryl Peoples and Championship Committee chairman Lindsey Tucker ordered a rematch after reviewing a tape of the fight. They noted that there were several low blow fouls committed by Mares and said that while referee Mora issued numerous warnings he neglected to penalize Mares and deduct  points for the fouls.

Peoples and Tucker also ruled that the knockdown called by Mora in the eleventh round which proved crucial in deciding the outcome of the fight which Mares won by a split decision, was the result of a low blow.

Based on its review the IBF branded Mora’s conduct “inappropriate” and said it “affected the outcome of the fight and in accordance with IBF/USBA Rules, the IBF is ordering a rematch which must be held within the next 120 days or by December 14, 2011

Promoter Don King who handles Agbeko welcomed the swift and decisive action by the IBF leadership and urged the Nevada State Athletic Commission and its leaders “to step up in similar fashion as the IBF has done. After all, they have an additional obligation to protect those making wagers by insuring that fair play is paramount in their state.”

The rematch put on hold any plans for WBC/WBO champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire to face-off against Mares in a unification title fight. Arum said Donaire would take the fight in a heartbeat but that he felt Agbeko clearly deserved to get a rematch first.(pr)

DIGOS CITY'S SALUDAR WINS THIRD TITLE

Digos City native Froilan “The Sniper” Saludar won a third World Boxing Organization title with a rousing 10th round TKO over a game and gutsy Gabriel Pumar, the former WBC International minimum weight champion before a good crowd at the picturesque Island Cove Resort and Leisure Park in Kawit, Cavite last Saturday night. The fight was telecast on a slightly delayed basis on AKTV on IBC channel 13 that evening.

The undefeated Saludar hammered Pumar with thunderous body shots throughout but the superbly conditioned Japan-based fighter refused to buckle under the onslaught and often fought back tenaciously with solid combinations of his own.

However, after Pumar caught Saludar with a clear low blow in the tenth round, the second after an earlier infraction in the fourth, a seemingly incensed Saludar went after Pumar with a flurry of vicious punches capped by a couple of cracking rights that sent Pumar crashing into the ropes and almost down before he was embraced by referee Danrex Tapdasan who wisely called a halt at 2:54 of the round.

With the win Saludar captured the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight crown to add to his WBO Asia Pacific Youth championship and WBO World Youth Championship titles while improving his record to 13-0-1 with 10 knockouts.

Pumar, who won the admiration of fight fans for his gallant stand, dropped to 14-6-1 with 9 knockouts.

After taking the first two rounds with thundering right hooks to the body and a couple of stinging right straights against the southpaw Pumar, Saludar was momentarily shaken when Pumar caught him with an uppercut and a flurry of punches before Saludar hit back with some vicious shots to the body and head in the third round.

A Pumar low blow early in round four angered Saludar who almost sent him through the ropes with vicious body shots but Pumar fought back with several shots to the head. After the action eased up in rounds 5 to 7, Pumar connected with a good right hook in the eighth followed by two good lefts before he jumped in and caught Saludar with a nifty right.

In a scheduled ten round super flyweight battle southpaw Jerwin Ancajas kept his unbeaten streak going with an 8th round TKO over tough Jason Egera in a slambang encounter that saw Egera wilt under a barrage of body shots and as Ancajas chased him around the ring referee Tapdasan stepped in and stopped the fight at 2:38 of the round.

In another action-packed bout super featherweight Rey Labao scored a 5th round majority technical decision over Jose Ocampo when the ring physician instructed referee Sammy Bernabe to stop the bout after Ocampo was bleeding from a cut over his right eye which the referee claimed was caused by an accidental head-butt.

However, repeated slow motion replays on television showed it was a perfect left straight that opened up the cut.

Two of the three judges had Labao who whooped it up in the center of the ring the winner with Salven Lagumbay scoring it 48-47 and Epi Almeda 49-46 while Romy Yulo had it even at 48-48.(TV5 pr)

Dapudong loses world title bid

City of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico - The world flyweight title bid of the Philippines' Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong against Mexico's Hernan "Tyson" Marquez ended in a controversial fashion Saturday night as US-based Mexican referee Raul Caiz stopped the fight after a flash knockdown suffered by the Filipino challenger in the third round of the 12-round title fight.

 

Dapudong, 25, who was never been down before tonight's championship fight, was tagged by the Mexican champion with a left to the face as he was backing off early in the third sending him to the seat of his pants.

 

The Filipino stood up on his own right away and appeared unhurt. Caiz gave him the mandatory eight count but suddenly decided to wave off  Dapudong out of the fight to the surprise of the challenger's corner which included former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol, trainer Bruce Lerio and veteran cornerman Nonito Donaire, Sr.

 

Dapudong was in control of the fight early on connecting crisp jabs to the face of the shorter champion. In the third, he caught the champion with combination to the body and pursued the Mexican titlist to the ropes only to back off as the champion counterpunched. The unofficial scorecard of TV Azteca showed Marquez winning the first round and Dapudong earning the second.

 

Marquez caught Dapudong with a left to the face sending the Filipino challenger to the canvas that ended in the stoppage of the fight.

 

"We can't say we could have won the fight but certainly, the stoppage was premature given the fact the this is a world championship fight. Dapudong was not even hurt or marked," said Pinol.

 

Dapudong, who appeared bewildered by the stoppage of the fight, said he was asked by Caiz whether he wanted to continue the fight and he said he told the referee "Yes."

 

A replay of the fight on Azteca TV of Mexico showed Dapudong nodding his head as Caiz was asking him whether he wanted to continue the fight. Caiz, however, waved off the Filipino challenger.

 

"I don't know why he stopped it," Dapudong, who did not even suffer a welt as a result of the punch that led to the knockdown.

 

Even the legendary Mexican boxing icon Julio Cesar Chavez, who was at ringside for the television coverage of the fight, later said he thought the fight was prematurely stopped.

 

He later posed with Dapudong in the lobby of Hoteles Lucerna after the fight.

 

Pinol said that the knockdown suffered by the champion Marquez in his fight against former champion Luis Concepcion of Panama was even worse but the fight was not stopped. Marquez came back to score three knockdowns and won the title from Concepcion.

 

Pinol said he has expressed his displeasure over the early stoppage of the fight but he had no plans of contesting the result.

 

"That's part of the realities you have to face when you fight in a foreign venue," Pinol said.

 

Saturday night's loss was Dapudong's fourth in 26 professional fights and his first by stoppage.(Carlos Bautista)

Dapudong camp worries about heat; Marquez concerned of hook

WBA Flyweight Championship

 

DAPUDONG CAMP WORRIES ABOUT HEAT;

CHAMP MARQUEZ CONCERNED OF HOOK

 

By Carlos Bautista 

City of Hermosillo, Mexico - With just a day remaining before Mexican champion Hernan "Tyson" Marquez defends his World Boxing Association (WBA) title for the first time against dangerous Filipino challenger Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong, both camps have showed concern of two factors that could affect the outcome of the fight.

 

For the Mexican champion, it is Dapudong's vaunted left hook that they are concerned with. And rightly so. In June last year, in spite of the short notice, the Filipino fighter used that left hook to knock out then No. 1 Mexican flyweight Jesus "Zurdo" Jimenez to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight silver title. 

 

While Dapudong lost that title by decision in September 2010, the video of that fight against Jimenez is all over the Internet and serves as a fair warning to the champion that the Filipino challenger, who again was informed of the fight only two weeks ago, is capable of scoring an upset.

 

Dapudong's camp, on the other hand, has expressed worries about the searing heat even at night in this city of 1 million people located right in the middle of the desert in Sonora, with the mercury hitting 105F during daytime.

 

"I went out of the hotel at 8:30 p.m. to buy slippers and the air was so hot I felt like I was standing beside a running diesel engine," said Dapudong's manager, former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol.

 

Both camps, however, have an antidote for their perceived problems.

 

In public workout Thursday, Mexican champion Marquez, a southpaw, was seen keeping his right gloves high up apparently to cover his right face which could be vulnerable to the Filipino's left hook while throwing a lot of left straights and uppercuts.

 

"They have studied Bungis (Dapudong's nickname) a lot and they know that the left hook could flatten Marquez," said Bruce Lerio, Braveheart Boxing Club's assistant trainer who will be at the corner of the challenger, along with cutman Nonito Donaire, Sr., on fight night.

 

The Filipino camp, on the other hand, are prepared for the heat. Food with considerable amount of salt and chocolates, and electrolytes have been prepared for the Filipino challenger to take right after the weigh in.

 

ALA Boxing Promotions vice president Dennis Canete, Dapudong's promoter, has prepared three pails full of bottled water and ice for fight night.

 

While the Filipinos are prepared for a long fight, they have one other option: end the fight early.

 

With all bases seemingly covered by both camps, it will be seen on fight night who between them has prepared better for the perceived problems.(pr)

Manny Pacquiao promotes HP TouchPad

Pacquiao vs. Mosley best shown by Showtime Boxing

Braveheart Boxing Club president Manny Pinol joins Manila Times

http://www.manilatimes.net/sports/%E2%80%98once-a-writer-%E2%80%99/

Braveheart's Villanueva, Magbanua Invited To Train in U.S. with Former Valero Mentor

ROLANDO MAGBANUA

LORENZO VILLANUEVA

World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Featherweight champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva and former WBO Interim Aspac Bantamweight champion Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua have been invited to train in the United States by legandary trainer Robert Alcazar in Maywood, California.

Jose Castillo, who managed former lightweight champion Edwin Valero and who arranged the training program, has officially asked the Consular Office of the American Embassy in Manila to allow Villanueva, Magbanua, chief trainer Noli Pinol and assistant trainer Bruce Lerio to travel to the US for a 2-month training program under Alcazar.

Villanueva, 24, a southpaw, is undefeated in his professional career with 20 wins and 19 KOs. He is scheduled to appear in the undercard of a Donnie Nietes show July 16 as part of ALA Boxing Promotions Pinoy Pride Series.

Magbanua, 25, who has a record of 19 wins, 14 KOs with 2 losses on points, is on a comeback trail after losing to compatriot Jason Igera, He is scheduled to fight in Gen. Santos City June 11.

Alcazar reportedly told Castillo that Villanueva has the potential of becoming another world champion from the Philippines because of his punching power and capacity to take a punch.

Even with his awesome pro record, Villanueva is still considered raw and needs refinement in his movements inside the ring, especially his defense.

Magbanua, on the other hand, hopes to be able to benefit from the training program through the improvement of his stamina and endurance which are his weak points.

In the US, Villanueva, Magbanua and two trainers are expected to stay with Braveheart Boxing Club cutman Jeff de Guzman in Glendale, California, about 30 minutes away from the Maywood Gym where they will train.

The team is tentatively scheduled to leave for the US after the July 16 fight of Villanueva.  [CARLOS BAUTISTA]

RP BANTAM CHAMP GLENN PORRAS STARTS U.S. CAMPAIGN JUNE 10

Philippine bantamweight champion Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 25, starts his foray into bigtime boxing in the United States when he goes up against a still unnamed opponent in the Chumash Casino and Resort in Sta. Inez, California June 10.

Porras, a product of the grassroots boxing program initiated by former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol in 1998, will undertake his US campaign under the management of New Jersey-based Vincent Scolpino, who also manages former Manny Pacquiao opponent Joshua Clottey, in a co-management agreement with the Braveheart Boxing Club.

Scolpino was able to work out for the approval of a US P1 visa for Porras after he was signed up in a promotional agreement by Gary Shaw Promotions which has been deeply involved in a tournament of the top bantamweights that include Vic Darchinyan, Abner Mares, Joseph Agbeko and Yohnny Perez.

"I have agreed to a co-management agreement with Vinny Scolpino to give Porras a chance to get the bigger fights in the US," Pinol said.

Another Braveheart boxer whose career will be handled by Scolpino in the US is former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Aspac Bantamweight Champion Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon whose return to the ring has just been announced by the former governor after a two-year lay off because of hand injuries.

Scolpino will act as the business advisor for Maraon, a native of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur who remained undefeated with 14 wins, 11 KOs and 1 draw.

Porras, accompanied by Angeles City-based American trainer Rick Staheli, will leave for the US June 1 and will stay with Braveheart Boxing Club's cutman Jeff de Guzman in Glendale, California.

Scolpino said Porras has to arrive in California days ahead of the fight because of some medical requirements that may be accomplished with the California State Boxing Commission.

The lefthanded Philippine champion has a record of 26 wins, 17 KOs and 2 losses. He won the national bantamweight title in a rugged a bloody fight against bullstrong Richard Pumicpic in February.

Fighting with a sprained wrist and two big cuts over both his eyebrows, Porras finished strong to win the title by Unanimous Decision earning the admiration of Promoter Gary Shaw who said that the Filipino bantamweight champion is the kind of fighter who will excel in tough fights in the US.[CARLOS BAUTISTA]

Pacman in lopsided win

http://www.mpboxing.com/blog/2011/05/07/pacquiao-wins-lopsided-decision-over-mosley/

Pacquiao-Mosley sked of bouts

Pacman will be donning the yellow colors as a sign of unity!

Top Rank Boxing
May 7, 2011 (May 8 in Davao)
MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

Main Event (12 rounds for the WBO World Welterweight title)
Manny Pacquiao vs. Shane Mosley

Supporting bouts
12 Rounds for the WBO World Super Bantamweight Title
Jorge Arce vs. Wilfredo Vazquez

10 Rounds, Super Middleweight
Alfonso Lopez vs. Kelly Pavlik

10 Rounds, WBC Cont.Americas Super Lightweight Title
Ray Narh vs. Mike Alvarado

Super Flyweight
Javier Gallo vs. Rodel Mayol

Super Lightweight
James Hope vs. Jose Benavidez Jr.

Super Lightweight
Aris Ambriz vs. Pier Olivier Cote

Lightweight
Randy Arrellin vs. Karl Dargan

N.Cotabato's Asenjo loses to Garcia

This is indeed a heart-breaking result but we hope the North Cotabato fighter will be able to rebound in his next bout.

Arum: Vegas needs Pacquiao more

http://www.toprank.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23700&ATCLID=205147502

Pacquiao on USA Today's front page

http://www.toprank.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=23700&ATCLID=205147497

Asenjo arrives in Mexico City

Asenjo shadow boxes in a Frisco hotel gym.

Mexico City - World Boxing Organization (WBO) Number 1 Miniflyweight contender Rommel Asenjo arrived in Mexico City April 27 (28 in the Philippines) for his first crack at the World Title in the 105-lb. division against newly-installed champion Raul "Rayito" Garcia on Saturday, April 30.

 

It was a long trip for Team Asenjo which included former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol who is Asenjo's manager, ALA Boxing vice president Dennis Canete and trainer Bruce Lerio of the Braveheart Boxing Club. After the 18-hour trip from Cebu City to San Francisco, the team had to spend the night in Daly City before taking another 6-hour plane ride to Mexico City.

 

In spite of the long and rigorous trip, the 21-year-old Asenjo appeared in high spirits and even warmed up in the gymnasium of the La Quinta Hotel in San Francisco after which he tipped the scale at 107 lbs., only two pounds over the weight limit.

 

Tomorrow, Thursday (Friday in Manila) Asenjo will meet the defending champion face to face in a public preview. The fight will be carried live in Mexico by Fox Sports but will not be shown in the Philippines where the left-handed power puncher is hardly known to boxing fans.

 

Rayito Garcia, who has 29 wins against 1 loss, was the WBO Interim Miniflyweight titlist but was installed recently as full-fledged champion after long-time titleholder Donnie Nietes of the Philippines relinquished the title as he moved up to the junior flyweight division.

 

Before Nietes relinquished the title, he and his manager Michael Aldeguer made sure that another Filipino fighter will fight for the title against Garcia.

 

Garcia once held the IBF version of the title which he won from Filipino Florante Condes but lost it to South African Nkosathi Joyi in his first title defense.

 

Against Asenjo (20 wins, 16 KOs, 2 losses), Garcia has the advantage fighting before a hometown crowd, age and experience.

 

But Asenjo, whose father is a farm tenant, is bouyed by an intense desire to lift his family out of poverty and by the dream of making history as the first boxer from North Cotabato to win a regular world boxing title.

 

Last Sunday, churchgoers in the town of Pigcawayan led by ardent Asenjo supporters former board member Rolly Dillera, Councilor Greggy Saljay III, Engr. Mila Casis and Bobong Estaris, offered prayers for Asenjo.PR

Team Asenjo at the Tribu Restaurant in Daly City. From left, Asenjo, Dennis Maniwang, Manny Pinol, Bruce Lerio and Dennis Canete.

Inday Sara boxing tourney set

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/sports/2011/04/07/inday-sara-slugfest-blasts-april-10-149244

$100 million to fight Pacquiao? Floyd Jr. is dreaming

Top Rank chief Bob Arum confirmed that Floyd Mayweather Jr. will only fight world boxing champion and Davao City's adopted son Manny Pacquiao if he gets $100 million.

What?

Floyd Jr. is dreaming.

While our poll says that 82.56% of the voters wanted them to fight and it could not be argued that this is what that fans craved for, the money Floyd Jr. is asking is just too much.

Fans troop to the stadium because they want to see Manny Pacquiao, not Floyd Jr.

Unfortunately, Floyd Jr. does not see it that way.

Floyd Jr. should better settle for a lower prize money and give boxing fans the fight they want to see.

Frankly, the Pacquiao-Sugar Mosley fight on May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada is not what the hard-core Pacman fans really want.

NORTH COTABATO's ASENJO FIGHTS MEXICO's GARCIA FOR WBO TITLE

Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, March 11 - World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Miniflyweight Champion Rommel Asenjo, 21, ranked Number 2 in the world by the WBO, takes a crack at the world championship when he fights Interim Champion Mexican Raul "Rayito" Garcia April 30 in Mexico for the title to be vacated by the current champion Donnie Nietes of the Philippines.

The championship fight, arranged by ALA Boxing Promotions of Cebu City which now promotes Asenjo and two other Braveheart boxers from North Cotabato, was set following the decision of Nietes to move up to the junior flyweight division for a possible match up against reigning WBO champion Giovanni Segura.

Asenjo, a farmer's son from the frontier town of Pigcawayan, North Cotabato, will be the first Braveheart boxer to get a crack at a legitimate world boxing title. In June last year, another Braveheart boxer, Edrin Dapudong of M'lang, stunned Mexican boxing by scoring a first round knockout of Jesus Jimenez to win the World Boxing Council Flyweight Silver title. He lost the title, considered as a junior belt,  in his first defense in September of last year.

Called "Little Assassin" by his handlers for his ruthless fighting style where he stalks his opponent inside the ring, Asenjo has a record of 20 wins with 16 knockouts and only two losses, both by decision.

Lively and friendly outside the ring, Asenjo is described by Braveheart chief trainer Noli Pinol as a "sadist" when he wears the gloves because he loves to punish his opponents. He got into trouble several times and slapped with point deductions for hitting his opponent while already down and even after the bell ending the round has sounded.

"I have warned him about this and he has been told never to do that in a world championship fight because he could get disqualified," said former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol who owns the Braveheart Boxing Club along with his 10 brothers. 

Asenjo is one of the eight boxers now managed by the former governor who are all products of a grassroots boxing program started in the province in 1998 which included the hiring of a Cuban boxing coach, Honorato Espinosa, in 2005.

The championship fight on April 30 will be Asenjo's toughest assignment in his young boxing career thus far. 

Garcia, nicknamed "Rayito" and one of two boxing brothers from Mexico, is a 28-year-old veteran and former world champion himself who won the title from Filipino Florante Condes. He defended the International Boxing Federation (IBF) title four times before losing it to a South African fighter Nkosinathi Joyi but came back to win the WBO Interim title or the junior championship.

A southpaw like Asenjo, Garcia holds an impressive record of 29 wins with 17 knockouts, one loss and one draw. He also has the advantage of fighting in his own territory.

"Asenjo will have to win this fight by knockout," Pinol said adding that the North Cotabato fighter is capable of scoring a knockout given his tremendous punching power.

The Filipino Oriental champion will prepare for the world championship fight in the Braveheart Boxing Farm at the foot of Mt. Apo in this city. He and his team are expected to fly to Mexico a few days before the fight.(pr)

Porras wins vacant RP bantam title

Glenn "The Rock" Porras of North Cotabato, the country's Number 1 bantamweight contender, bucked a knockdown in the third round of a 12 round championship bout, two cuts in his left and right eyebrows and a sprained left wrist to score a unanimous decision victory over No. 4 contender Richard Pumicpic of Laguna and win the national title in the 118-lb. division in the ALA Boxing Promotion and Cobra Energy drink open air boxing at the Magsaysay Park, recently.

It was a rough and tough fight for the two fighters as the bout was made more difficult by the rain that drenched the canvas causing the two fighters to fall and roll. It also sapped the energy of the two fighters who figured in frequent pushing and grappling.

Porras, 25, took control of the fight early the first two rounds but ran smack into a thunderous right by Pumicpic prompting referee Ramuel Ovalo to give the Braveheart North Cotabato fighter a mandatory eight count. But that was the only round clearly won by Pumicpic who was outpointed by Porras throughout the fight.

The judges’ scorecards were almost identical with Mario de Ramos scoring 116-111, Alberto Dulalas 117-111 and Romy Fordaliza 116-111, all for Porras.

Mayor Joselito Piñol of the town of Mlang, North Cotabato where Porras comes from, awarded the championship belt of the title fight supervised by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

Two other fighters from the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato owned by the Piñol brothers scored impressive victories.

Junior featherweight Ronnie "Baby Faced Destroyer" Apilado displayed tremendous body punching scoring a 4th round knockout with a devastating left to the body of the game Rolando Omela in a scheduled 8.

So impressive was Apilado's body punching that Omela himself said he felt like some of his ribs were broken because of the relentless attack to the midsection.

Another prospect of the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato, 18-year-old Joemer Lumacad, fighting only his 3rd pro fight forced Ruel Cabrejas, who was making his pro debut, to submission after only 1:34 minutes of the first round with relentless attack to the head and body. It was his second knockout in 3 successful professional fights.

After the bout, Porras complained that he sprained his left wrist and this seriously affected his performance during the Philippine bantamweight championship.

Porras victory capped a successful weekend for the North Cotabato boxers who won 5 of their 6 bouts. Saturday night in General Santos City featherweight Lorenzo Villanueva and miniflyweight Rommel Asenjo won in contrasting fashions. Villanueva shellacked Ruben Santillanosa in the 2nd round while Asenjo outpointed Jongjong Ponteras.[CARLOS BAUTISTA]