Mepranum bags WBU crown; Dela Torre, Abdulhamid KO foes
By Lito delos Reyes
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 15 Nov 2015
Mepranum.
FORMER world-title challenger Richie ?Magnum? Mepranum made a smashing comeback infront of a huge hometown crowd by capturing the vacant World Boxing Union (WBU) super flyweight crown Saturday night at the Maasim Gym in Sarangani Province.
Mepranum, a homegrown fighter from Maasim, connected more telling blows and eluded the attacks of Marhun Tabamo to score a convincing unanimous decision in the 12-round title-fight.
Mepranum only tipped the scales at 115 pounds while Tabamo of Butuan City was overweight at 124 lbs. and was only trying to draw the fight using a much heavier gloves.
?Kung nanalo si Tabamo, hindi pa rin niya makukuha ang korona dahil overweight na siya,? said WBU representative Vic Cabalog.
The 28-year old Mepranum, who showed back his old world-class style improved his record to 31 wins with 4 loss and 1 draw while Tabamo, 23, dropped to 8 wins, 9 loss and 4 draws.
?Lipay kaayo ko na my title na pud ko. Dako kaayo akong pasalamat kay Ninong Mayor Jojo Lopez,? said Mepranum, a former Philippine champion.
Mepranum also fought but lost to Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada by a 10th round TKO in their championship fight for the WBA Super World flyweight and WBO World flyweight titles at the Centro Convenciones in Puerto Penasco, Sonora, Mexico.
Two other fighters under the wings of Maasim Mayor Jojo Lopez ? Bais and Vince Paras ? also scored contrasting wins in the undercard.
Bais landed a solid body shot to knockout Jomar Ministerio in just 25 seconds of the first round while promising Paras knocked down former national team member Jason Daming in the 4th round to escape with a unanimous decision in their 6-rounder bout.
?It was a good test for Paras, who showed that he also has a heart to fight,? said trainer Benny dela Pena.
Two judges scored it 58-55 while another judge saw it 57-56 all for Paras.
Meanwhile, World Boxing Federation world super featherweight king Harmonito ?Hammer? dela Torre and upcoming Adam Diu ?Big Daddy? Abdulhamid both from the Sanman Promotions also stopped their respective opponents in the undercard.
Dela Torre landed left-right combinations to stop former interim WBC Asian Boxing Council super bantamweight champion Richard Betos after the rest period of the 2nd round.
Betos quit after his left eye got swollen due to Dela Torre?s right uppercuts. Dela Torre now has 17 straight wins with no loss or draw while Betos dropped to 20-13-1 slate.
Abdulhamid, on the other hand, displayed his big improvement by knocking down four times Habigis Quinones only in the opening round of their 6-rounder.
Referee Abdul Marajan already counted out Quinones after the third knockdown but Games and Amusements Board officer-in-charge Arlene Olondriz ordered the veteran referee to continue the fight since there was no three-knockdown rule.
Abdulhamid, however, again connected a beautiful left cross to the chin of Quinones, who fell down helplessly near the ropes infront of the GAB officials? table.
?Ang laki na ng improvement ni Abdul,? said Sanman Promotions Chief Finance Officer Dexter ?Wangyu? Tan.
The 20-year old Abdulhamid improved his record to 8-2-0 while Quinones is now 5-16-1.
The other results saw Lony Cadayday beat John Alipino by a unanimous decision; Joash Jordan outclassed Jun Rex Salonia by UD and Ken Jordan stopped Jason Mopon by a technical knockout in 1:38 of the 4th round.
A huge crowd witnessed the exciting bouts including Sarangani Gov. Steve Solon and local government officials. Mayor Lopez thanked them and the other sponsors led by Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao. ? LITO DELOS REYES
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