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)

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)

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)

Dapudong Destroys The Destroyer

The Philippines' Edren "The Sting" Dapudong, a farmer's son from M'lang, North Cotabato demolished Mexico's Pound-for-Pound No. 1 boxer Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez in less than two minutes of the first round of a scheduled 12-round world championship to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver title in this historic mountain city.

The 23-year-old former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental Junior Flyweight champion who was fighting as a flyweight for the first time, initiated the action right at the start of the bell connecting with crisp jabs to the face of the left-handed Jimenez and heavy blows to the midsection.

At 1:20 minutes of the round, Dapudong connected with a right straight to Jimenez's breadbasket and followed this with a crackling left hook that sent the Mexican crumbling to the canvas. Jimenez beat the count.

As American referee Gerald Ritter signalled the continuation of the fight, Dapudong came rushing in pummelling the 26-year-old Latino champion with thunderous body punches before connecting with another powerful left hook that dropped Jimenez face first to the canvas for the full count at 1:55 of the first.

The knockout victory by Dapudong stunned the Mexican crowd who came expecting an easy fight for Jimenez who is also known as "El Torito" and considered as Mexico's next prospect for a world title. Jimenez is rated No. 1 by both the WBC and the WBO.

Dapudong, who now has a record of 23 wins, against 2 losses and 11 KOs, was not expected to prevail over the high-touted Jimenez. He was informed of the fight only two weeks ago and had to queue up at the US Embassy for a transit visa to Mexico which he got three days before the fight.

Braveheart Boxing Club's chief trainer Noli Pinol, younger brother of Braveheart Boxing Club head former Governor Manny Pinol, however, said that Dapudong had been undergoing light training prior to the news that he will fight for the WBC Silver Flyweight title.

"He was able to adjust easily, especially so since he did not have to lose weight as he will be fighting as a flyweight," Noli said.

Last minute pointers on conditioning shared by Justin Fortune, Manny Pacquiao's former conditioning coach, also helped as Dapudong was able to recover from fatigue and acclimatize easily.(pr)

Dapudong, Garcia and Mexican Foes Make Weight

Filipino boxers Edren "The Sting" Dapudong, who is
fighting for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Silver Title, and
Richard Jun Garcia, who battles for the World Boxing Organization (WBO)
Youth Junior Bantamweight title, easily made the weight in their respective
divisions during the official weigh-in today, one day before they go up
against Mexican opponents here.

Dapudong, 23, the former WBO Asia Pacific Miniflyweight Champion and
Oriental Junior Flyweight Champion, tipped the scale at 112 lbs. while his
opponent, Jesus "The Destroyer" Jimenez, who was earlier reported to be
taller and bigger than the Filipino fighter surprisingly came in two pounds
lighter at 110 lbs.

Garcia, who is from Malungon, Saranggani Province, weighed 114 lbs. as
against the Mexican defending champion Jose Montes who came in at 115 lbs..
The two will fight for the WBO Youth World Junior Bantamweight champion.

Braveheart Boxing Club chief trainer Noli Pinol said Dapudong, 24 wins, 2
losses, 14 KOs, appears to have recovered from the long and rigorious trip
and is expected to give Jimenez, 28 wins, 5 losses, 20 KOs, a tough fight
tomorrow.

Dapudong has never been knocked down in his career while Jimenez has
suffered 3 KO losses.(pr)

Undefeated Featherweight Dreams of Training With Freddie Roach

Featherweight Lorenzo "Thunderbolt" Villanueva, the 23-year-old power puncher from Midsayap, North Cotabato who holds a spectacular and immaculate fight record of 18 wins with 17 KOs, has one dream as a boxer - to train under Hall of Fame boxing coach Freddie Roach.

"I have learned a lot from my trainers, especially coach Noli Pinol, but I believe that coach Freddie Roach will be able to transform me into a better fighter like what he did to Manny Pacquiao," said Villanueva, a shy boy who turned to boxing at an early age when he lost his father and his mother could no longer send him to school.

Villanueva, who is currently the WBO Oriental featherweight champion, is tall at 5' 7" and a tremendous puncher, is described by his manager, North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Pinol, as an awkward fighter who needs fine-tuning from celebrated trainer Freddie Roach.

"I have seen how Freddie was able to transform Manny Pacquiao from a one-handed and one-dimensional fighter to become the greatest fighter of all time. I believe he can do this with Lorenzo Villanueva," said Vice Gov. Pinol.

Pinol said he has asked Billy Keane, who serves as Gerry Penalosa's manager, to help in convincing Freddie Roach to give Villanueva a chance to train under him.

"You don't find boxers like Lorenzo everyday. The boy has a heart as large as a battleship, he has the power and most of all the discipline. It's a pity if we don't get him the best training that he needs to realize his full potentials as a fighter," said Pinol.

He said there is no problem with the current training staff handling Villanueva, inluding Braveheart chief trainer Noli PInol, as all of them are believers of Freddie Roach's training program and style.

Villanueva, a southpaw like Manny Pacquiao, is currently training for a July 24 fight in a promotion to be staged by former world bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa in Manila.

Three other Braveheart boxers -- bantamweights Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon, Rolando "Smooth Operator" Magbanua and Glenn "The Rock" Porras -- are also expected to see action in the July 24 fight card.

Villanueva said that training under Freddie Roach would be the realization of a long cherished dream which he believes could open up the doors of opportunities for him in boxing.

"I hope he gives me a chance to prove my worth as a boxer," Villanueva said.

Billy Keane who now represents the Braveheart boxers in the United States said he will do his best to convince Freddie Roach to take a look at the Thunderbolt.

Has success gone into the head of Marvin Sonsona?

Has success gone into the head of Marvin Sonsona?
Well, his promoter, Sammi Gello-ani, is keeping his fingers crossed.
"I hope not. That's why we're giving him a chance. We don't want to give up on him," he said.
Sonsona made noise when he won took the WBO super-flyweight crown from Puerto Rico's Jose Lopez in Ontario, Canada last September and at 19 became one of the youngest Filipino world champion ever.
But his reign at the top did not last long. He was stripped of the title just two months after after failing to make weight for his defense against Mexico's Alejandro Hernandez. The bout pushed through but ended in a draw.
Sonsona found reasons for his failure to make weight, even saying that he has grown so fast that it would almost impossible for him to make 115 lb. He said it was time for him to move up in weight, and that's what he did.
On Feb. 27, the 5-foot-7 Filipino nicknamed "Marvelous," and who has the skills to make it to the world stage, will take on another Puerto Rican, the 17-0 Wilfredo Vasquez Jr., at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Puerto Rico.
It will be for the vacant WBO super-bantamweight (122 lb) title and Sonsona, also undefeated in 14 fights, has been training for nearly three weeks now in the United States under Nonito Donaire Jr.
Before he left for the US last Jan. 6, Sonsona gave his handlers some terrible headache because twice he postponed his flight from his hometown in General Santos City to Manila in time for the flight to the US.
Gello-Ani said on one occasion, he went to Sonsona's home in General Santos City at 8 a.m. just in time for a 10 o'clock flight to Manila, only to find the tall and shifty fighter in bed.
"He asked me if we could leave the next day instead because he wanted to sleep," said the promoter of the former world champion who just loves to party and stay out late at night.
Still, Gello-Ani isn't giving up on him.
"Bata pa kasi (He's still young)," he said. "He just turned 19 last July so let's give him a chance. There were days when he told me he wanted to quit boxing because he's been boxing all his life."
Sonsona comes from a very poor family, and upon his return from Ontario last September, as the world champion, he said all he wanted was to give his parents and his siblings a taste of the good life.
"Now he's gotten a taste of the good life and he wants to quit," said Gello-Ani, adding that Sonsona signed a contract for $25,000 for the Lopez fight and $50,000 for the Alejandro fight where he lost the crown.
"Nakatikim na ng sarap eh. Ayaw na daw niya. But we're not supposed to give up on him. We're giving him two years to mature. But I told him that in those two years he needs to fight," said his promoter.
"I told him that it may be too late for him if he quits now and decides to make a comeback when he runs out of money. May pera pa kasi kaya nakaka-ag-isip umayaw. Paano kung ubos ba ang pera? Hahanap ulit 'yan."
Gello-Ani said he promised Sonsona a good fight contract for the Velasquez, and he's happy to hear news that he's been training hard in the US.
"That's a very good sign. I would rather see him stay there because for him, there are less distractions there than when he's here at home. I just hope he puts everything into his mind," said Gello-Ani.
Or maybe,yes, it's time to give up.

Maraon Defends WBO Aspac Title May 23

Maraon Defends WBO Aspac Title May 23

Ozamis City - One of the country's top bantamweight prospects, Jundy "Pretty Boy" Maraon fights before a hometown crowd in this seaside city when he defends his World Boxing Ortganization (WBO) Asia Pacific bantamweight crown against Tanzanian Anthony Mathias at the fully-airconditioned Medina Gymnasium on May 23.

Maraon, 24, who holds a record of 13 wins (10 KOs) with 1 draw, hails from the town of Molave, Zamboanga del Sur, which is only 25 minutes away from this peaceful city of 160,000 people. He is expected to draw thousands to the first big boxing event to be held here in over 30 years.

The 5' 6" tall southpaw will be making the first defense of the title he won via a sensational 3rd round knockout of compatriot Jason Igera in Cebu City last February.

Also appearing in the main undercared is 19-year-old Rommel "Lirttle Assassin" Asenjo who goes up against another Tanzanian fighter, Sadiki Abdulazizi, for the vacant WBO Miniflyweight Oriental title.

Asenjo, who demolished his last opponent in only 34 seconds last April 25, has a record of 13 wins (11 KOs) with 2 losses.

Ozamis City Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog, Jr., who is sponsoring the "War in Ozamis: Asia versus Africa," said the people of Ozamis and the nearby towns of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte are expected to flock to the Medina Gymnasium to witness the biggest boxing event ever to be held in the city. The fights will be telecast the following day, May 24, at 4 p.m.

The Tanzanian challenger, Anthony Mathias, is a former PABA superflyweight champion who holds a record of 23 wins against 11 losses with 11 KO wins and 1 draw.

Sadiki, on the other hand, is a young fighter who will be making his first attempt at a regional title. He has a record of 7 wins, 2 losses with 4 KO wins.

Also appearing in the undercards are WBO Interim Oriental bantamweight champion Rolando Magbanua, featherweights Reynaldo Belandres and Lorenzo Villanueva and Jermie Jabel.