Asenjo Destroys Tejares in 1st But 17-year-old Lumacad Steals Show

Magpet, North Cotabato, Aug. 11 - World Boxing Organization Miniflyweight Oriental Champion Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo demolished flyweight Rodel Tejares in less than one round of a scheduled 10-round bout Wednesday but it was the 17-year-old former national youth amateur champion Joemer Lumacad who became the star of the night as he displayed exceptional boxing talent and brilliantly dominated his opponent to win his first four-round bout by a shut-out.

 

Asenjo, 21, who is being groomed for a big fight abroad by international promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, displayed tremendous power as he floored the bigger Tejares twice in the first round leading to the stoppage of the fight with just a little over two minutes into the round.

 

The lefthanded WBO Oriental champion, whose dream is to fight legendary Puerto Rican junior flyweight champion Ivan Calderon, stalked Tejares right at the start of the first round and unleashed his vaunted left cross to score the first knockdown and finished off his opponent with relentless punching. It was Tejares' second loss to Asenjo. Their first bout staged two years ago when Asenjo was just a 6-round fighter also ended in a knockout in the second round.

 

While Asenjo showed his devastating power, the star of the show Wednesday night was 5' 6" tall Lumacad, who at 17 needed parental consent to appear in his first professional fight.

 

Displaying natural boxing talent, Lumacad slipped through the punches of Bukidnon's Ronel Brosas, who himself displayed decent boxing skills, and totally dominated the fight from start to finish.

 

The boxing show performed by the young Lumacad was so impressive that the crowd which was silenced in awe for four rounds broke into a thunderous applause after the match.

 

"That boy will be a world champion," said veteran boxing manager Bernard Yu of Agusan del Sur, manager of Brosas.

 

The Pinol brothers led by retired police colonel Patricio, mayors Efren and Joselito and Board Member Socrates were all pleased by the performance of the young Lumacad, the newest protege and a product of the amateur boxing program of former governor Manny Pinol.

 

Magpet town Mayor Efren Pinol who staged "Tomorrow's Champions" tournament Wednesday said Lumacad who weighed 110 lbs. but is expected to grow to be a lightweight was so natural in his movements inside the ring that he made the difficult sport of boxing so easy.

 

Lumacad will fight his second 4-round bout on August 29.

 

The complete results:

- Rommel Asenjo won over Rodel Tejares, KO 1st round 108 lbs.10 rds.

- Gary Lumacad won over Roel Garcia, KO 4th, 108 lbs., 6 rds.

- Rogelio Canete won over Marvin Camungay, TKO 1st rd., 115 lbs., 4 rds.

- Louie Yunting vs. Rodel Sungkit 4 rds 118 lbs. ended in No Decision after the 3rd

- Ronnie Apilado won over Efren Fernandez, TKO 4th, 4 rds., 122 lbs.

- Ronron Dalot won over Phil Francis Abanilla, SD, 4 rds., 112 lbs.

- Joemer Lumacad won over Ronel Bosas, UD, 4 rds., 110 lbs.

 

"Tomorrow's Champions" in Magpet was sponsored by Mayor Efren Pinol in observance of the foundation week of the municipality and supported by 

Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. of , San Miguel Corporation.(pr)

Pinol: boxrec.com ranks Dapudong No. 3 P4P in RP, World No. 3 Flyweight

BOXREC.COM Ranks Dapudong No. 3 P4P
In RP; World No. 3 Flyweight 


World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver Flyweight Champion Edrin "The Sting" Dapudong has been ranked by boxing database websiteboxrec.com No. 3 Pound-For-Pound Filipino boxer today, after boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, Jr. in its latest rating of prizefighters all over the world.

Boxrec.com, a US-based database website which keeps the records of all professional boxers in the world, also ranked the 24-year-old Dapudong World No. 3 Flyweight, after Thailand's Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and Japan's Daiki Kameda.

Dapudong's meteoric rise in the world rankings is mainly because of his sensational first round knockout of former world No. 1 flyweight Jesus Jimenez last June 19 in Mexico which won for the farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato the WBC Flyweight Silver title.

Here are the boxrec.com ratings:

Pound For Pound best boxer, Philipppines:
1. Manny Pacquiao, 53 wins, 38 KOs, 3 losses, 2 draws
2. Nonito Donaire, 24 wins, 16 KOs, 1 loss
3. Edrin Dapudong, 22 wins, 11 KOs, 2 losses
4. Michael Domingo, 40 wins, 18 KOs, 14 losses, 2 draws
5. Gerry Penalosa, 54 wins, 36 KOs, 8 losses, 2 draws
6. Bernabe Concepcion, 28 wins, 15 KOs, 4 losses
7. Rocky Fuentes, 26 wins, 16 KOs, 6 losses
8. Danilo Pena, 22 wins, 10 KOs, 7 losses
9. Malcolm Tunacao, 26 wins, 15 KOs, 2 losses
10. Rodel Mayol, 26 wins, 20 KOs, 5 losses

Prominent Filipino boxers who did not make it to the Top 10 of Philippines Pound-For-Pound best fighters were Drian Francisco (No. 12), AJ Banal (No. 14), Milan Melindo (No. 16), Donnie Nietes (No. 17) and Johnriel Casimiro (No. 23).

In its World Flyweight rankings, boxrec.com released this latest rating of the Top 10:
1. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand), 74 wins, 40 KOs, 3 losses, 4 draws
2. Daiki Kameda (Japan), 17 wins, 11 KOs, 2 losses
3. Edrin Dapudong (Philippines), 22 wins, 11 KOs, 2 losses
4. Denkaosan Kaovichit (Thailand), 50 wins, 20 KOs, 2 losses, 1 draw
5. Moruti Mthalane (South Africa), 25 wins, 16 KOs, 2 losses
6. Luis Concepcion (Panaman). 20 wins, 15 KOs, 1 loss
7. Hiroyhuki Hisataka (Japan) 19 wins, 8 KOs, 8 losses
8. Tomonobu Shimizu (Japan) 17 wins, 8 KOs, 3 losses, 1 draw
9. Takefumi Sakata (Japan) 36 wins, 17 KOs, 5 losses, 2 draws
10. Rocky Fuentes (Philippines) 26 wins, 16 KOs, 6 losses, 2 draws

Other prominent flyweights who did not make it to the Top 10 were former world champion Edgar Sosa (No. 11), world flyweight champion Julio Cesar Miranda (No. 12), and former world champion Brian Viloria (No. 15).

Dapudong will defend his title Sept. 17 in Cancun, Mexico against Mexican and North American Boxing Federation (NABF) flyweight champion Wilbert Uicab, who is rated by boxrec.com No. 16 flyweight in the world. 

YOUNG BRAVEHEART PROSPECTS FIGHT IN 'TOMORROW'S CHAMPIONS' AUG. 11

The search for future world boxing champions continue on Aug. 11 when seven young boys from the Braveheart Boxing Club of North Cotabato, owned and managed by former governor Manny Pinol, will figure in "Tomorrow's Champions" boxing tournament staged in celebration of the foundation day of the town of Magpet in North Cotabato.

World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Miniflyweight Champion Rommel "Little Assassin" Asenjo, 21, (19 wins, 16 KOs, 2 losses) takes on flyweight Rodel Tejares in a 10-round non-title bout which is expected to be a tune up bout for the North Cotabato fighter in preparation for a big fight being arranged by international promoter Sampson Lewkowicz and his local counterpart, Samson Gelloani.

Asenjo fought and defeated Tejares by knockout three years ago but the latter has moved up in weight and is now campaigning in the flyweight division.

"This will be a different story now because they will fight in a heavier weight category of 110 lbs. and that's a new territory for Asenjo," Manny Pinol said.

While Asenjo maybe the star of the night, boxing fans and observers will actually be watching out for six young fighters from the Braveheart Boxing Club, including former national youth champion Joemer Lumacad, 17, who will be fighting his first professional bout.

Joemer, 5' 6" tall and considered by Pinol as a top prospect, will be going up against another first timer from Bukidnon Province, Ronel Bosa, in four rounds in a 110-lb. fight.

The young Lumacad, who needed a parental consent to be able to take the fight on Tuesday, was a national youth champion in Bacolod City three years ago and is expected to grow up to the lightweight division.

In his last amateur fight in M'lang last week, he impressed no less than WBO vice president Leon Panoncillo and international matchmaker Samson Gelloani when he stopped his opponent in the first round.

Other young boys seeing action in the Aug. 11 card are: 

- Gary Lumacad versus Roel Garcia, 6 rounds, 108 lbs.
- Rolando Canete versus Marwin Kamungay, 4 rds., 115 lbs.
- Louie Yunting versus Rodel Sungkit, 4 rds., 118 lbs.
- Ronnie Apilado versus Jun Fernandez, 4 rds, 122 lbs.
- Phil Francis Abanilla versus Ronron Dalot. 4 rds., 112 lbs.

The Magpet Tomorrow's Champions event is sponsored by Magpet Mayor Efren Pinol.(pr)

Young Cotabato Prospect Awes WBO Veep

JOEMER LUMACAD

M'lang, North Cotabato - A 17-year-old former national amateur youth champion who is turning professional on Aug. 11 has impressed World Boxing Organization (WBO) vice president Leon Panoncillo following a first round stoppage win in an amateur bout held in this town Sunday, Aug. 1.

Bantamweight Joemer Lumacad, a southpaw who is 5' 6" tall, displayed natural boxing talents in disposing of his opponent in his last amateur bout prior to turning professional on Aug. 11.

"Very impressive. He will go places," said Panoncillo who came to M'lang to supervise the double WBO Oriental championships held in celebration of the town's foundation anniversary celebration Aug. 1 to 5.

Lumacad, who comes from New Antique fronting the vast Liguasan Marsh, a village frequently attacked by secessionist rebels in the past, was a member of the North Cotabato amateur boxing team which participated in the National Youth Championships in Bacolod City in 2008. He won the gold in the 48 kg. category.

His older brother, Gary who fights in the junior flyweight division, is also a professional boxer who won his fourth bout yesterday scoring a unanimous decision.

Former North Cotabato Governor Manny Pinol, who will be Joemer's manager, said the young Lumacad worked as a gasoline boy shortly after graduating from high school early this year.

"I was with Joemer when he won the gold in Bacolod but I actually forgot about him because of my previous involvement in politics. Last month, I remembered him when I saw his brother Gary and I was told that he was working as a gasoline boy in M'lang so I sent somebody to get him back to the gym," he said.

In his last amateur fight yesterday, Joemer displayed natural movement inside the ring and tremendous power as he staggered his opponent several times in the first round prompting the referee to stop the fight.

"Natural ang talent," said promoter Samson Gelloani, who also saw the fight of Lumacad yesterday.

Lumacad will fight his first 4-round bout on Aug. 11 in a boxing card sponsored by Magpet Mayor Efren Pinol.(pr)

Double WBO Oriental Fights: Villanueva Stops Bangoyan; Diale KOs Jabel

M'lang, North Cotabato - The Double World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental championships which featured two Braveheart boxers from North Cotabato ended in contrasts as featherweight champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva stopped challenger Balweg Bangoyan after the 6th round while young Jermie Jabel suffered a stunning 3rd round knockout from the hands of Ardin Diale in their fight for the vacant flyweight title.

Villanueva, 23, raw and awkward but tough, stood toe to toe with Bangoyan from the first round up to the end of the 6th taking everything that the challenger could dish out including thunderous punches to the midsection. He staggered Bangoyan several times and caused a huge swelling on the challenger's left face prompting the ring doctor to recommend to the referee, Tony Pesons, the stoppage of the fight after the 6th.

Officially, it will be a 7th round stoppage victory for the 5' 7" tall brawler from Midsayap town. Villanueva improved his record to 18 wins with 17 KOs and one No Decision.

Jermie Jabel, 22, the flyweight prospect from Pigcawayan town learned a painful lesson for the night when he fought the wrong fight and engaged the shorter but stronger Diale in a close quarter battle. Diale dropped Jabel with a short uppercut in the first round and Jabel was never able to recover.

Diale scored another knockdown in the second round before sending Jabel to the canvas in the 3rd for a full count by referee Bruce Mctavish.

"Jabel fought the wrong fight. I will have to sit down with the training staff to assess that fight and point out the flaws. Then maybe we will give him another chance and determine whether he still has what it takes to excel in this sport. Honestly, I am not very happy with this result because I feel that if he gets knocked out by somebody who had been knocked out by Rodel Mayol and Johnriel Casimiro, then that indicates that something is simply not right," said Braveheart Boxing Club owner and Jabel's manager, Manny Pinol.

"I pity the boy because I know how much he wanted to win. He certainly got an A for courage. But we will have to honest in our assessment. Boxing is a cruel sport. Compassion even for mediocre fighters has no room here," he added.

Villanueva, however, will be taking a different route according to the former North Cotabato governor who is now the acknowledged boxing patron of the area.

"Villanueva certainly has the heart and the power. But we really have to overhaul his fighting style. He is going to end up with a octagonal head if continues fighting the way he did tonight. A certain degree of boxing skills and art must be added to his fighting style," he said.

In other fights, Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua, 25, made a quick job of his comeback fight by scoring a first round knockout over Nikong Calamba while Glenn "The Rock" Porras, 24, cut down Jun Pader with powerful body punches right in the first round of the twin eight-round bouts in the bantamweight division.

Rey Juntilla, 21, struggled to win over Roberto Omela in 6 rounds while junior flyweight Gary "Chinito" Lumacad, 22, and Francis Abanilla, 19, a flyweight won their respective 4 round fights.

The M'lang event was sponsored by Mayor Lito Pinol of M'lang, Mayor Efren Pinol of Magpet and San Miguel Corporation.(pr)

Double WBO Oriental Championships: Villanueva In Top Shape, Bangoyan Fails to Make Weight; Jabel-Diale Bout A Slambang Match

M'lang, North Cotabato - What was earlier expected to be an interesting match up between World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Featherweight Champion Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva and former World Boxing Council (WBC) International jr. featherweight champion Balweg "Davao Hitman" Bangoyan lost some of its luster when the challenger failed to make the 1`26-pound weight limit for the 12-round championship bout.

While defending champion Villanueva, 23, weighed at 125 lbs., one pound lower than the weight limit, challenger Bangoyan tipped the scale at 130 lbs.

WBO Asia Pacific Vice President Leon Panoncillo who witnessed the weigh in said that under WBO rules the Villanueva-Bangoyan fight will still be staged as a championship bout. In the event Bangoyan wins, the title will be declared vacant. 

Bangoyan, under the WBO rules, will be required to wear a bigger pair of gloves weighing 10 ounces compared to the regular 8 ounces for the lower weight category fights.

This development prompted Panoncillo to declare that the WBO Oriental Flyweight championship between Jermie "The Worm" Jabel of North Cotabato and Manila's Arden Diale would now be elevated to be the main event. Jabel weighed 111.5 lbs. while Diale scaled 110 lbs., both well within the limit of 112 lbs. for the flyweight category.

Jabel, undefeated in 16 fights with 15 wins, 8 KOs and 1 draw, will be fighting for a regional title for the first time against the tough Diale, who earlier in his career fought two boxers who would later become world champions - Rodel Mayol and Johnriel Casimiro.

The WBO championship bouts will be held at the M'lang Municipal Gymnasium and is sponsored by M'lang Mayor Joselito Pinol and Magpet town Mayor Efren Pinol, both younger brothers of Braveheart Boxing Club owner Manny Pinol.

Other Braveheart boxers who will be seeing action Sunday are jr. featherweight Rolando Magbanua, bantamweight Glenn "The Rock" Porras, jr. featherweight Rey "The Bull" Juntilla, junior flyweight Gary "Chinito" Lumacad and Francis "The Panther" Abanilla.

The fights, staged in connection with the foundation anniversary of M'lang municipality.(pr)