MACA RETIRES AFTER TKO LOSS IN JAPAN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Jul 2007
Former OPBF bantamweight champion Jess Maca has announced his retirement after suffering a technical knockout in the eighth round of a scheduled ten round bout against undefeated Russian Sasha Baktin in Tokyo, Sunday.
The 35 year old Maca who was coming off a ten round unanimous decision loss to little known Ariel Delgado last February 17 when Maca wanted to quit after nine rounds but was persuaded to end the fight which was telecast on the boxing show “In This Corner” the fight against the undefeated Russian was approved by the GAB since Maca was rated No. 11 super bantamweight in the agency’s April ratings which met the Japan Boxing Commission rule that only Filipino boxers in the top twelve can fight in Japan.
According to well-known Japanese boxing manager, matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi, Baktin used his speed to advantage and caught Maca with accurate punches throughout the bout before halting him at 1:46 of the eighth round. Koizumi said it “looked a sort of premature stoppage but saved Maca from further punishment.”
Maca’s record at the time of his announced retirement dropped to 48-22-6 with 18 knockouts. With the win Baktin improved to 17-0, 5 KO’s.
Maca won the OPBF title with a majority decision over Masahiko Nakamura on May 9, 1998 and successfully defended the title six times before losing by a split decision to Hozumi Hasegawa on May 18, 2003. Hasegawa is the reigning WBC champion. Maca’s retirement comes after losing four of his last six bouts.
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