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]