FIGHTING WITH ONE EYE, ASENJO STOPPED IN 3RD
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 29 Mar 2015
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico - Mexican flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles here tonight after Filipino challenger Romel Asenjo's handlers stopped the fight early in the first round because of an eye injury.
It was I, as manager of Asenjo, who told cornermen Jeff de Guzman and Mexican second Jorge Lacierva to climb atop the ring and stop the punishment of the smaller Filipino challenger who was fighting with only one good eye.
Estrada, 24, caught Asenjo with a stinging left jab towards the end of the second round which flipped the skin covering the right eye prompting De Guzman to put it back in place during the rest period.
When I saw the injury, I knew that it was meaningless to continue with the fight as Asenjo would only be badly punished by the bigger and stronger Estrada.
It was a decision lauded by Mexican boxing great Juan Manuel Marquez, who along with another boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, did the fight commentary for TV Azteca.
The decision was also praised by WBO and WBA officials and the boxing fans who all said that the decision to stop the fight was the right decision to protect the boxer.
"Good decision. There will still be other boxing matches in the future," Marquez later told the Philippine team in the dug-out after the fight.
Even before the stoppage of the fight, it was evident that Estrada was more superior than the shorter Asenjo.
The Mexican champion used his longer reach to control and the fight.
Asenjo stunned Estrada with a thunderous left halfway in the second round but the Mexican champion came back with a combination which resulted in the eye injury for the challenger.
The Filipino challenger protested the decision of his corner to stop the fight but it was explained to him that there was no point continuing the fight with only one good eye.
"It could affect his eyesight later on," said De Guzman.
The Mexican ring doctor who examined Asenjo after the fight prescribed an injectable medicine to address the swelling of his right eye.
It was Asenjo's second loss in a world title attempt having lost three years ago to Raul Hirales Garcia in Mexico City for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) miniflyweight title.
Asenjo, who is a natural miniflyweight and who had to gain weight to fight in the flyweight division, said after the fight that he would like to go down to the miniflyweight division again.
Photo: Asenjo's right eye closed after the stoppage of the fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025