PINOY PRIDE 19: BAUTISTA FALLS, FUENTES AND BERNALDEZ DELIVER

DAVAO CITY- In a stunning upset, Jose ‘Negro’ Ramirez of Mexico rode the momentum of the knockdown he scored in the opening round and beat Rey ‘Boom Boom’ Bautista by split decision in their WBO International featherweight title fight held Saturday at the USEP gym. 

A short left hook followed by right sent Bautista down and a collective gasp was heard from the crowd. Ramirez failed to finish the job and in the subsequent rounds Bautista fired back and tried to land a power shot that would have changed the complexion of the fight. 

But Ramirez hung tough and Bautista was an easy target, his offense often predictable. Ramirez slowly but surely piled up the points even when he was hurt on a couple of occasions. Ramirez tough stand won over the crowd who started to cheer for him in the 9th round. 

In the 10th, Bautista was bloodied by an elbow and Referee Bruce McTavish deducted a point from Ramirez. But the Mexican was the fresher and more accurate fighter in the endgame. 

The scores read – Judge Edward Ligas – 114 -111 for Bautista while Judges Salven Lagumbay – 114-111 and Atty. Danrex Tapdasan – 114-111 both scored for Ramirez. 

Ramirez was well applauded by the crowd for his effort. More than the WBO International belt, he may have sent Bautista into retirement. 

Both Promoter Michael Aldeguer and his father ALA Gym patriarch Antonio Aldeguer were in agreement after being interviewed by philboxing after the fight that Bautista should hang up his gloves. 

In an entertaining brawl, Rocky Fuentes beat Juan Kantun of Mexico by unanimous decision. Kantun walked into a stiff jab and suffered a flash knockdown in round one. But the Mexican continued to press and both fighters traded hard hooks. 

Kantun went down in the 3rd but scored a flash knockdown of his own in the 4th. The fast paced action continued and Fuentes knocked Kantun with an overhand right in the 7th. Fuentes was more accurate with his delivery in the later stages of the fight and won handily 98-88 in all three judges cards.

Mark Vincent Bernaldez fired blistering combinations and knocked out Indonesian Arief ‘Ice’ Blader in the second round. A left uppercut to the liver followed by a hard left to the jaw sent Blader to the canvas. Referee Tony Pesons reached the ten count at 1:20. 

Bernaldez remained unbeaten at 10W-0L, 6 KO’s. Blader drops to his tenth loss, 17W-10L-1, 6 KO’s. 

Engelbert Moralde battered Abel Gayhun and won a lopsided unanimous decision verdict. Scores 60-54 on all three judges. Gayhun finished the bout with hematomas on his left eyelid and left forehead. 

John Vincent Moralde knocked down Juvel Gayhun with a right straight in the first round. Gayhun hung tough but Moralde handily won on all three judges’ cards by scores of 59-54, 58-55 and 59-54. 

Kim Galon knocked out Joselito Tabago in the second round with hard body shots. Time-2:47. 

In the opening bout of the evening, Jessie Suacasa beat Glendon Ramos by unanimous decision. The scores were 39-37 for all three judges.

News Article courtesy of: 
Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 Apr 2013