STORY OF PHILIPPINE BOXING PART XXV: TACY MACALOS, IBF WORLD LIGHT FLYWEIGHT CHAMPION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 28 Apr 2020
Tacy Macalos was born Epitacio Agapay on October 28, 1965 at Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte.
He suffered his first loss in his professional debut one of the few world champions who failed in their first bout. Ariel Samson defeated him by decision on February 17, 1984.
Macalos drew his next two fights and it was only in his fourth match when he gained his first win, that victory was over Ramon Lupasi by decision on April 28, 1984.
He went on to attain triumphs over Sammy Baculong, Julius Olegario, Elmer de Galla, Bert Chan, Edgar Capino Jr., Joel Advinvula, Steve Ponan, Tito Abella, Lou Marabe, Ariel Samson in a rematch, Rolando Protacio, Junior Bailon, and Ronnie Vallescas by decision.
Macalos won over Danny Duran, Edward Adame, and Titing Dignos by TKO.
He became Philippine light flyweight champion by stopping Little Baguio via 8th round TKO on October 30, 1986 in Olongapo City.
In March 29, 1987, Macalos lost in his first bid for a world title to Jum Hwan Choi in his home turf in Suwon, South Korea by controversial split decision for the International Boxing Federation world light flyweight championhip.
Filipino judge Francisco Alejandro scored it 146-143 for Macalos but Indonesian judge Leon Johannes saw it 145-142, while Korean judge Jin-Kuk Kim had it 147-143 all for Choi.
Then Sonny Vidal wrested the Philippine light flyweight title from Macalos after he was declared unfit to continue because of a right eye injury due to legal punches. The referee stopped the fight in the 9th round for the TKO on July 4, 1987.
He collected victories over Leopard Ari by 3rd round TKO, Arnulfo Melencion by 2nd round TKO, Cesar de la Cruz by 5th round TKO, Thailand's Rittichai Lukmingkwan by 5th round TKO, and another Thai Thanjai Donjadee by 3rd round KO.
Macalos finally became a world champion in November 5, 1988 when he won the IBF light flyweight title by an overwhelming unanimous decision over South Korean Jum Hwan Choi during their rematch at the Araneta Coliseum. The judges' scoring 119-108, 119-109, and 117-110 told the dominance of the new champion.
He prevailed over South Korean Seung Yup Kang in a non-title bout via 4th round TKO in Manila on March 4, 1989.
Macalos lost his IBF world light flyweight title when he was defeated by former Muay Thai fighter Muangchai Kittikasem of Thailand by split decision in Bangkok, Thailand on May 2, 1989. Only Filipino judge Alejandro Francisco favored Macalos, 118-112. While Thai judge Niphon Larhula saw it 117-115 and Australian judge Ray Mitchell had it 118-115 both for Kittikasem.
Both Macalos and Kittikasem had a rematch in Bangkok on October 6, 1989. Macalos was leading on two scorecards when he was knocked out in the 7th round.
Without a title this time, he triumphed over Sammy Ansig by 4th round TKO, Primo Erasan by majority decision, and South Korean In-Man Chang by 4th round TKO.
Macalos defeated former two-time world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa by 6th round technical decision when Peñalosa was cut in the right eye on February 2, 1993 at the Cuneta Astrodome.
Macalos suffered four straight setbacks to former IBF world flyweight champion Rolando Bohol by UD, future WBA world bantamweight titlist Daorung Chuwatana of Thailand by 8th round KO, future WBC world super flyweight ruler In Joo Cho by decision, and Japanese flyweight champion Puma Toguchi by 3rd round KO, signalling that it's the time to call it quits.
He compiled 44 total bouts, 29 wins with 12 KOs, 12 losses with 5 KOs, and 3 draws per Boxrec.com. He did not abandon boxing totally being a trainer of boxers at present.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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