'WORLD CUP' BOUT UPDATES!
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 12 Aug 2007
SACRAMENTO,Calif.--Gerry Penalosa enters the ring with Freddie Roach, Katsidis and co-manager Billy Keane. Then Jhonny Gonzalez follows to the tune of a Mexican music. Lupe Contreras now introduces both fighters.
First round--Penalosa stalks Gonzalez, Gerry to the body, Gonzalez dancing beautifully, but got hit with a left. Both in furious exchange at the closing part of round. Round to Penalosa for initiating the action.
Second round--Very close round, although Gonzalez seems to have the upper hand as he uses his jabs and moved well. Great action at the end of the round.
Philippine, Mexican and US national anthems are done with. Mexican promoter Jaime Quintana and legendary trainer Ignacio Beristain have this very worried look on their faces after the 4-0 win so far by the Filipinos. Ringside mediamen also say the Philippines has won the battle of national anthems. The Banares brothers sang their rendition of the 'Lupang Hinirang.'
Z GORRES and ERIC ORTIZ are now up on the ring, and there will be no 'swing bout' as earlier planned. Lupe Contreras now introducing them to the crowd.
Gorres lands big left to Ortiz face in the first, another big left, Ortiz looks scared but careful, another left by Gorres, and the Mandaue City fighter wins the first round.
Gorres continues to press the action in the second round, Gorres rocks Ortiz again. Another right to the chin rocks Ortiz, the Mexican very frustrated as Gorres clearly wins round.
Big Gorres left lands on Ortiz early in the third, another left, another left almost downs Ortiz, the two fighters wrestle to the canvas, and still fighting while down, referee Caiz warns both of them. They trade punches! Ortiz eating lots of lefts, as a very sharp Gorres is target-shooting. Gorres seems to be in an entirely different league.
Ortiz bloodied in fourth, and starts roughousing Gorres. Body shots by Gorres, Ortiz with a body shot of his own. Ortiz seems to be guarding well now from big lefts.Gorres again wins round.
Ortiz keeps eating lefts int he fifth. Mediamen starting to wonder how he will survive this crisis.
Ortiz eating tons and tons of lefts from Gorres in the sixth. WBO president Paco Valcarcel has a very worried look in his face for Ortiz.
Gorres applies the pressure in seventh. Mexican promoter Jaime Quintana seems shocked by what's happening to his fighter. Gorres goes down after being pushed by Ortiz, and the latter says sorry. Gorres wins seventh round. Freddie Roach goes up the ring and ready to get another win.Doctor checks Ortiz at the break.
In the eighth, a tomato-sized swelling on Ortiz right forehead makes things worse for him. Gorres pummels Ortiz. Ref stops fight so doctor can check. And the doctor stops fight!! Gorres is declared winner for 4-0 RP win! Official is 2:15 of the 8th for Gorres' TKO win.
Ortiz said: "He hit me with a hard shot. He boxed me beautifully, and i could not catch him. I could do nothing. The referee and doctor stopped it, that's ok. They just want to protect me."
Gorres, in an interview, says: "I'm very happy for the Philippines. I'm very proud. My win is for my country and I'm very proud of this accomplishment.
First bout is an 8-round tussle between DIOSDADO GABI and JOSE ANGEL BERANZA. Both fighters up on the ring now, being introduced by ring announcer Lupe Contreras.
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Beranza wins a very close opening round.
Gabi seems to have recovered well in the second round, as Beranza tires and swings with his punches.
Gabi slightly wins third round, delivering the cleaner punches.
Beranza wins a very, very close fourth round. Both fighters had their moments, but Beranza landed slightly more.
Gabi takes the fifth but hardly as he seems to be tiring while Beranza recovers.
Gabi cut above left eye with a butt, but does well in sixth round with big body shots.
Gabi does good in seventh despite Beranza's late surge.
Gabi clearly wins last round with big countering body shots.
And the winner is...DIOSDADO GABI BY UNANIMOUS DECISION!!
WBO lightweight champion Michael Katsidis, wearing a RP team jacket, joins Gabi in the corner.
Gabi said: " I felt really good. I felt great because it was the World Cup. I did it for my country."
Beranza said: "He moved too much. He never hurt me. And i left the decision to the judges. I felt it was closer than the scores were."
Up next is the 6-round bout between MIGUEL ROMAN and MICHAEL DOMINGO showdown. Ring announcer Lupe Contreras now announcing names of the fighters. WBO champ Katsidis, proud of the Philippine team jacket, is again in the corner of the Filipino fighter.
Domingo wins first round by jabbing, moving well and going to the body of the on-rushing Roman.
Domingo slightly wins second round against a seemingly frustrated Roman.
A very frustrated Roman is being bludgeoned by Domingo in the third, Roman hits Domingo with a low blow but referee didn't notice it. Roman keeps clinging for dear life.
Boxing beautifully in the fourth, Domingo keeps his momentum. Roman has no answer to the puzzle so far.
In the fifth, the two fighters exchange punches, and Roman keeps chasing Domingo as the latter counterpunches. Domingo slightly wins this round due to cleaner punches.
A very frustrated Roman was being clobbered in the sixth and final round.
And the winner is...Michael Domingo by unanimous decision!!
After the fight, Roman said: "He moved a lot. And he hit me at the back of my head when i was groggy. I needed more rounds because he was very experienced. I thought the scores should have been closer.
Domingo, ecstatic and happy, said: "I'm very happy now. I'm just gonna wait for my next fight and train soon. I wanna thank everyone who came from the Philippines to support me."
Ex-PBA cager Dondon Ampalayo is among the Pinoy fans who is here to cheer for the Pinoy fighters.
Up next is the AJ BANAL versus JORGE CARDENAS tiff. Announcer Lupe Contreras now announcing both fighters' names.
Sweet-punching Banal dominates first round, as the much taller Cardenas eats big lefts from the Ermita, Cebu fighter.
Banal continues to dominate the second round, and Cardenas seems to be puzzled by what is being put in front of him.
Cardenas downed by a big right hook in the third! Fight is being stopped!Cardenas being attended by physicians. He is now being carried on a stretcher but looking fine now.
Cardenas says: "He hit me very well but i twisted my right ankle when i went down. I was thinking to close out the show in the later rounds. Referee Jack Reiss also confirmed that indeed Cardenas twisted his ankle when he was knocked down.
Lupe Contreras announces the official time, and it's 28 seconds in the third round.
Banal says: " I set him up for a good shot. I waited for him to come in. I have waited very long for this fight. I am very happy for the support. And i thank a lot of people back in the Philippines for the support."
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