CANOY WINS WBO ORIENTAL TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 24 Feb 2008
ZAMBOANGA CITY -- Former amateur standout Eric Canoy continued his undefeated run as a professional by winning the World Boxing Organization Oriental featherweight title with a ninth round TKO over Tanzania?s Rajabu Maoja before a record crowd of over 10,000 fans at the air-conditioned Zamboanga City Coliseum Saturday night.
It was an amazing reflection of the support for boxing by the people of Mindanao, one of the progressive regions of the country, where boxing fans paid P200, P100 and P50 for tickets coming on the heels of the 6,000 fans who watched the fights in Tubod, Lanao del Norte last February 9.
Respected international referee Bruce McTavish of New Zealand, who makes his home in Angeles City, called a halt at 1:17 of the ninth round when Canoy dropped Maoja who had taken a beating up to then although the African?s unorthodox style made it difficult for Canoy to connect with clean shots.
The stronger Canoy, who in his amateur career beat Somlak Kamsing, Thailand?s first Olympic gold medalist, improved to 7-0 with 5 knockouts and is certain to improve his No. 6 rating by the Games and Amusements Board. He dropped Maoja in the opening round with a hard right and then had him reeling across the ring in the seventh round with a cracking left but the African was saved by the bell.
Maoja tried to fight in flurries but tended to paw or slap with his right drawing a caution from McTavish who handled a difficult job particularly well.
After he decked the African for the full count Canoy who had risen from the depths of a troubled life thanks to the untiring efforts of Congressman Erbie Fabian who took him off the streets and reunited him with the sport in which he was a certified talent, jumped for joy and climbed onto the ropes to wave to his adoring fans in his hometown.
It was an action-packed night of knockouts where several promising young fighters from the stable of Congressman Fabian made a huge impression with their skill and punching power.
Among the outstanding fighters were Felix Tanamor, brother of Harry Tanamor, the only Filipino boxer to qualify so far for the Beijing Olympic Games who made short work of Marlon Paduga, Marlon Canoy who hammered Ritchie Duay into submission in a hurry, flyweight Marvin Mabait who mauled Ramil Cabalan and John Henry Gaspar who disposed of Andelo Andajar.
The only sour note in a night of exciting fights which were also witnessed by Zamboang City Mayor Celso Lobregat and several city councilors was the split decision awarded undefeated flyweight John Mark Apolinario who was lucky to score a split decision over an aggressive Brix Bomb Ray of Davao City. Ray controlled the action much of the way and often flustered the lanky Apolinario who only occasionally connected with one-two long range combinations but eventually won and improved his undefeated record to 10-3 with 3 knockouts.
Top photo: Eric Canoy of Zamboanga (L) tags Rajabu Maoja of Tanzania with a left in this bit of action from their WBO Oriental featherweight title fight last night in Zamboanga City.
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