RICKY SISMUNDO LOSES BY CONTROVERSIAL SPLIT DECISION TO WORLD RATED JOSE FELIX JR ON TOP RANK CARD
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 31 Jan 2016
Filipino lightweight Ricky Sismundo lost a controversial split decision to world-rated Jose Felix Jr on a Top Rank card at the Marriot Convention Center in Burbank, California Sunday, Manila Time.
Regarded as a Top Rank title contender, Felix Jr who is 23 years old and is ranked No. 4 by the IBF and No. 7 by the WBO, was surprised by the solidly built Sismundo who fights out of Yokohama under the name Mondo Harada.
Reporting from ringside, Miguel Maravilla said Felix Jr ?won a questionable ten round split decision? over the aggressive Sismundo who kept Felix Jr on the back foot all night long but came up short? on the scorecards of former Filipino judge Jonathan Davis who now lives in the US who had Felix Jr ahead 95-94 and Daniel Sandoval 96-93 while veteran judge Max Deluca had Sismundo 95-94 despite being deducted a point by referee Zachary Young for hitting Felix after the bell in round six in which Sismundo pressed forward ?with big punches and kept backing the Mexican into the ropes.? In round five Sismundo nailed Felix Jr with with a big right hand towards the end of the round. Maravilla reported that the Filipino continued to press forward in the tenth and final round.
Maravilla reported that Sisumundo backed Felix Jr against the ropes and connected with some big punches but still lost a controversial decision.
After losing in his attempt to win the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation title on May 7, 2014 to Masayoshi Nakatani by a unanimous twelve round decision, Sismundo won four fights in a row against Japanese and opponents and figured in one technical draw.
In his last fight on August 4 last year, the 26 year old Sismundo scored a 4th round knockout in a scheduled eight round bout against Kazuya Nakawo.
Felix Jr who weighed in at 135.2 pounds on the other hand had a record of 32-1-1 with 25 knockouts with his only loss coming at the hands of Bryan Vasquez in a battle for the WBA super featherweight Interim title on April 12, 2014 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Sismundo has some power but is regarded as being too slow for Felix Jr but surprisingly troubled Felix Jr. of Sinaloa, Mexico all night long with his aggressive stance and. Power. The Filipino was ranked No. 1 by the OPBF in the lightweight division last November.
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