Pigcawayan, North Cotabato - Junior featherweight Rolando Magbanua and mini-flyweight Rommel Asenjo more than lived up to their townmates' expectations after scoring impressive victories against their Thai opponents in this frontier town of about 60,000 people Sunday, October 19.
Magbanua, known as "The Smooth Operator," easily disposed of Yodchamchai Sithsoie with successive body punches followed by a mean uppercut which brought the Thai fighter down to the canvass at 1:29 in the 1st round of their 10-round non-title match.
It took a few minutes before Yodchamchai could recover from the effect of Magbanua's powerful punches.
The former national amateur team member, who comes from Poblacion 2 in this town, improved his still unblemished professional record to 11 wins and 7 knockouts with his TKO victory over Yodchamchai.
Asenjo meanwhile scored a knockout against the much taller Denchailek Sithsoie at 2:50 in the 5th round of their own 10-round non-title fight.
The southpaw Asenjo, who is from Bolacaon 2 here, showed the crowd early in the fight why he is called "Little Assassin" when he brought Denchailek down with a punch to the Thai's jaw 1 minute into the first round.
With his win, Asenjo avenged his controversial points loss to Denchailek's stablemate in Thailand in February this year.
He now has a 9-2 win-loss record with 7 knockouts.
In the undercard matches, top Philippine bantamweight contender Glenn Porras scored a knockout over Roldan Malinao of Butuan City at 1:25 in the 1st round of their 10-round fight.
Light-flyweight Jermie Jabel, another Pigcawayan native, also wowed his cheering townmates who filled the municipal gymnasium to the rafters with his 1st round knockout win over Jimboy Jacinto of Bislig City in their 6-round match.
Rey Juntilla, another very promising bantamweight of the Braveheart Boxing Club, completely dominated Bernard Amper of J. Elorde Stable of Manila in their 6-round bout to score a unanimous decision in his favor.
The professional boxing event dubbed "Bakbakan sa Pigcawayan" was part of the fiesta celebration of the town which only recently was one of the areas affected by the conflict between the government and a rebel group.
In his message during the short opening program North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol said the event is a way of showing to everybody that life is back to normal in North Cotabato.
Pigcawayan Mayor Herminio Roquero meanwhile thanked Vice Gov. Piñol, who also manages the Braveheart Boxing Club, for giving the people of Pigcawayan the opportunity to see the two outstanding fighters in action against foreign opponents.
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