GABUNILAS DESTROYS HULU IN 6, CAPTURES WBO YOUTH TITLE
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 24 Mar 2023
Talisay City, Cebu -- Popular local boxer John Paul Cabunilas tamed and broke down tough and sturdy Wandi Priman Hulu of Indonesia to force the referee to stop the fight in the 6th round to prevent further damage to the Indonesian during the 'Enkwentro 9' boxing event at the Talisay City Sports Center Friday evening promoted ARQ Boxing Promotions. Cabunilas is now the new WBO Youth Light Flyweight champion and hopes to land himself in the world rankings.
Cabunilas made good use of his height and reach advantage to take control of the fight from the get go peppering Hulu with his stinging jabs and combinations to the head and body. Hulu whose haymakers appeared to be his main weapon, could not penetrate Cabunilas' sleek footwork and solid defensive stance.
From the third round onward, as Hulu failed to connect his haymakers he became target practice from Gabunilas's precise jabs, hooks to the body and zooming straights to the head. The solidly built Hulu started to wear down from the 4th round as the punishment he received took its toll and, after being the aggressor earlier in the fight, began to retreat and later, just trying to survive.
Smelling blood, Gabunilas pursued Hulu all over the ring like a hunter on the verge of capturing his prey. In the sixth round, as Hulu was cornered in the red corner, Gabunilas unleashed a barrage of unanswered punches to the head and body forcing Referee Rey Caitom to intervene and stop the fight awarding Gabunilas a methodical TKO victory in the sixth round.
Gabunilas has improved his record to ten wins with one loss and now looks forward to new challenges to further his boxing career.
In the featured undercard, undefeated flyweight Ramil Macado Jr improved his record to 6-0-0, 2KOs with a dominant win over Francis Jay Diaz (8-5-1, 1KOss) over 10 rounds. Scores: 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 in favor of Macado Jr.
Unbeaten flyweight Berland Robles defeated Ariston Aton by unanimous decision over eight rounds and improved to 8-0-0, 3KOs. Scores: 79-72, 78-73, 78-73 for Robles.
In a 8-round scheduled super featherweight battle, Rhonvex Capuloy stopped hugely overweight Junrel Jimenez in the 4th round. Capuloy is now 10-2-1 with 7KOs while Jimenez has dropped to 9-3-1, 5KOs.
Angelus Pilapil of Talisay City won his debut with a first round knockout win over Dee-Jay Galleposo of Zamboanga.
In the curtain raiser, Marco Pumar won by unanimous decision over Anthony Galigao.
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