‘Lucky punch’ ends Paradero’s bid
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 17 Dec 2021
Paradero at the wake of his father two weeks ago.
Bukidnon challenger Roberto (Inggo) Paradero will wait for another chance to drape a world championship belt on the tomb of his late father Federico who passed away two weeks before his fight against WBA minimumweight titlist Knockout CP Freshmart in a makeshift arena at the Saphan Hin Park in Phuket, Thailand, last Tuesday. Paradero went down swinging after taking a short right hook to the jaw in the fifth round, got up then collapsed in front of Thai referee Chalerm Prayadsab who signaled the end at the 1:28 mark.
Paradero came out looking for a homerun, throwing wild haymakers and pressing forward. Freshmart, making the 10th defense of his crown, patiently picked his punches as Paradero charged in. The Thai champion was cut in the corner of his right eye in the opening round. Paradero’s defense was wide open when he attacked like a kamikaze bomber and showing no emotion, Freshmart was unfazed by the daredevil assault. In the fourth round, Freshmart fell twice and Paradero, thrice but Prayadsab ruled all the trips a slip although at least a knockdown should’ve been credited each fighter. Paradero landed a left cross that sent Freshmart stumbling on his back but Prayadsab called it a slip.
In the fifth, Paradero was just as relentless but left himself open for a short counter right that Freshmart unleashed from close quarters. Paradero didn’t know what hit him, crumpled to the canvas, stood up on unsteady legs then dropped again as Prayadsab waved it off. It seemed like Paradero won three of the first four rounds before the knockout. “’Di ko nakita ang nakatama sa akin,” he admitted. “’’Di ko alam at biglaan. Bumagsak siya sa fourth round pero ‘di siya nabilangan. Ang plano ko ay makabawi kasi walang round pinanalo si Freshmart. Natsambahan lang ako.” Paradero said he’ll work his way back into title contention.
Paradero’s manager Doc Toto Sajulga said it was a lucky punch. “Maganda ang laro ni Inggo from the first to fourth rounds, twice pa nga napabagsak niya ang kalaban na hindi binilanganan ng referee,” he said. “Sa fifth round, na tsambahan siya. Sabi ni (boxing promoter) Bebot (Elorde), kulang sa dasal at simba. Hindi na ako nakasama sa Thailand kasi Barangay Chairman ako kaya maraming trabaho. May schedule na si Inggo kaagad sa March sa Japan.” Elorde agreed it was a lucky punch. “Lamang na sana si Paradero,” he said. “Kaso natsambahan siya. Malakas din yung champion.” Paradero returns home with trainer Jojo Singsing on Sunday.
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