SOLIS SHUTS DOWN BATAWANG'S DREAM
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Dec 2007
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO -- Guadalajara's own son and hero, Ulises 'Archie' Solis, amidst the wild cheering of thousands of his compatriots inside the Auditorio Benito Juarez here, brought the fight to Bert Batawang of the Philippines from the outset and totally dominated and dismatled Batawang before the referee stopped the contest at 2:33 in the 9th round.
Solis (26-1-2 20KOs), successfully defended his IBF light flyweight title for the 6th time and fulfilled his promise to have his second Filipino victim in Batawang (50-7-0, 34KOs).
Solis climbed the ring tonight the bigger and quicker fighter over Batawang who got lost in Solis' speed and counterpunching abilities that made Batawang tentative all night long.
All three judges, David Robertson, Rafael Lopez Santos and Dr. Oldemar Soto had identical scores of 80-72, giving all rounds to Solis, after the 8th round. PhilBoxing.com also had it 80-72 for Solis after 8th round.
Batawang made the fight interesting in the first half of the 4th round when he hit Solis with some good shots in the head and the body as he continued to chase Solis who seemed to be hurt. Solis however recovered in time to return the compliment to Batawang in the second half of the 4th round to steal Batawang's best round in the night.
From the 5th round onwards, it was all Solis' show as he tagged Batawang with jabs and combinations and crisp counters every time Batawang attempted to throw some punches which is far and in between. Batawang was cut in the right eyebrow by a legimate punch in the 8th round before the referee mercifully stopped the contest in the 9th round as Solis chased Batawang who appeared to be defenseless.
Batawang would later say after the fight that he was hit by Solis with a hard left over his right rib cage in the 5th round that practically immobilized him in the remainder of the contest.
As far as 36-year-old's Batawang's future is concerned, Samson Gello-ani, Batawang's manager, said that he would have Bert take a long rest and probably give him a one local fight before assessing Batawang's future.
Team Batawang will leave Guadalajara for Los Angeles Sunday afternoon before returning to the Philippines on Dec. 18.
Top photo: Ulises Solis of Mexico (L) digs into the Philippines' Batawang's body in this bit of action from the IBF light flyweight title bout at the Auditorio Benito Juarez in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Saturday night.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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