GERALDO OUTPOINTS DEMECILLO, WINS WBO ORIENTAL TITLE IN HONG KONG
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 12 Mar 2017
Geraldo.
HONG KONG - Mark Anthony Geraldo reinvigorated his career when he outhustled the determined Kenny Demecillo in their crossroads all-Filipino battle for the WBO Oriental bantamweight title.
Geraldo, a former world ranked contender, showed that he still had a lot of gas left in the tank and a few tricks up his sleeve to survive the grueling encounter that served as the supporting main event for the Rex Tso-Hirofumi Mukai WBO/WBC regional title unification.
The southpaw Geraldo used his right jab to keep Demecillo at bay and used his lateral movement to effectively dodge Demecillo?s lunges. Demecillo, the naturally bigger man, pressed the issue and tried to land his hard body shots. The fight progressed with their contrasting fighting styles and game plan unraveling.
Geraldo was the superior technical boxer whose accuracy enabled him to win the chess match sequences. Demecillo relied on sheer guts and wanted to make it into a war of attrition.
Geraldo and Demecillo in the heat battle.
With Geraldo feeling the effects of Demecillo?s body blows, he still managed to land sharp counters and managed to smother and hold Demecillo if he came dangerously close. Demecillo's inexperience fighting on the big stage was a key factor in this fight, with the three judges awarding Geraldo?s counterpunching accuracy and ring generalship.
The judges? scores ? Samson Iu (Macao) ? 96-94, Mekin Sumon and Sungworn Klungboonkrung both from Thailand had it 98-92. The referee was Sawaeng Thaweekoon of Thailand.
Geraldo was awarded the WBO Oriental bantamweight title by WBO Asia Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo.
The 25 year old Geraldo (34-7-3,15KO?s) is the only boxer who has beaten the current IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas. This fight propelled Geraldo into the world rankings.
One year after beating Ancajas, Geraldo beat Hirofumi Mukai by KO in Japan. In 2014, he beat Mexican Efrain Perez in Macao. His career seemed headed for a world title but he lost to McJoe Arroyo by unanimous decision in Puerto Rico. This is the same Arroyo who would lose his IBF world crown to Ancajas.
Geraldo, who is from Valencia City, Bukidnon, would later suffer losses to Japan?s Takuma Inoue and another Filipino, Jeson Umbal. The fight against Demecillo enables him to step on the brakes of his career skid.
The 24 year old Demecillo (12-4-2,7KO?s) hails from Lanao del Norte and is the reigning WBF Asia-Pacific bantamweight titlist. He owns two TKO wins against a former up and coming prospect Daryl Basadre and a split draw against former IBO world titlist Edrin Dapudong.
The third Pinoy in the card, Rey Migreno, used an overhand right to knockout Japanese Yuki Strong Kobayahsi in only 23 seconds.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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