Miel Fajardo Rocks, Stops Gabunilas, Claims OPBF Light Flyweight Strap Cebu
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Aug 2023
Fajardo (R) drops Gabunilas seconds into the fight.
CEBU, Philippines -- Fans could not believe their eyes! It was so quick, so unexpected!
In a thrilling display of speed and power, world-ranked Filipino knockout artist Miel Fajardo lived up to his preceding fame as the "Silent Assassin" slugger by quickly and shockingly disassembling skilled Cebuano John Paul Gabunilas in just 60 seconds of action Tuesday evening, August 15, at the Hoops Dome in Mactan City, Cebu.
Prior to the battle, fans in attendance, as well as so many watching online, expected a competitive match-up between two talented young world-ranked rising-star fighters, with the OPBF belt on the line.
But once reality unveiled itself, it was Fajardo fast storming all over Gabunilas, as a devastating Filipino typhoon.
Within the very first seconds of fight, Fajardo had already attacked and landed hard on the popular Cebuano with a surprising, long left that made harsh contact on the cheek of the Gabunilas, staggering him.
Third man Tony Pesons has seen enough, waves the fight off, to prevent Gabunilas from receiving more power blows from Fajardo.
Right then, as Gabunilas tried to sneak away to his left, Fajardo caught him once again with an even more powerful long right that viciously rocked the ARQ fighter dramatically to the canvas, knees going down first, head following.
Not even 10 seconds.
It was an unexpected and crushing knockdown.
Fans' jaws just dropped.
With difficulty, the brave and strong Gabunilas made it back up on his vertical, beating the count of Cebu's legendary third man Antonio "Tony" Pesons, although looking rather unsteady.
The already uneven war went on with Fajardo in full attack mode, flooring Gabunilas two more times until Pesons had seen enough.
Rightfully, the famous referee was already waiving the battle off.
It was all over at the exact 60-second mark in the very first round, how about that.
Fajardo's win over Gabunilas looks in some aspects similar to that of Fajardo's ABF title win during the Highland Boxing Promotions show last December in Bangkok, Thailand.
In that war, Fajardo delivered one big solid punch to rock his Thai opponent into dreamland in just 10 seconds of action, a record for a sanctioned pro boxing fight in Thailand.
This time around, the small lion Miel Fajardo needed to dropped three times his opponent to end matters in 60 seconds. Equally riveting, equally thrilling!
Referee Tony Pesons declares Fajardo winner by TKO in the first round>
Truly, no fan at the Hoops Dome was expecting an ending so quickly and so devastating like this, which reminds us all of how amazing and how surprising boxing can be.
In boxing, the really unexpected can happen.
With the exciting win, the hard-hitting 23-year-old Miel Fajardo (11-1-2, 10 KO's), surely improves his world-ranking, largely because John Paul Gabunilas (10-2, 7 KO's) had entered the square ring as a world ranked fighter, rated by the WBO among the world's top-15 hundred-eight-pounders.
Fajardo with his Team. L-R: Top promoter Brico Santig, cornerman Joemarie Gamboa and coach Erickson Asilo.
In addition to that, the "Silent Assassin" Miel Fajardo also claimed the coveted WBC's OPBF Light Flyweight Belt, a red and golden strap decorated with flags of the countries of the OPBF Federation, as well as photos of boxing legends Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao, don Jose Sulaiman and the late Hubert Minn.
Notably, as of today, Mel Fajardo is rated by BoxRec.com as the world's #3 Light Flyweight, as well as ranked as world's #11 by the WBC. After tonight, those numbers might get better.
Which brings fans to ponder that a battle of this slugger Miel Fajardo against the winner of WBC/WBA world champ Kenshiro Teraji (21-1, 13 KO's) versus veteran challenger Hekkie Budler (35-3, 11 KO's), would be one heck of a fight.
Miel Fajardo is guided in his pro boxing career by manager Monty Flores of Los Angeles, California, promoter/matchmaker Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotions and coach Ericxon Asilo of Manila's Lion's Gym.
MORE RESULTS FROM MACTAN, CEBU
In the co-feature, 24-year-old "Astroboy" April Jay Abne (13-1, 6 KO's) scored a close split decision win over former 2-time world-title challenger Robert "Inggo" Paradero (18-6-1, 12 KO's) to bring home the OPBF Silver Flyweight Belt.
April Jany Abne wins the OPBF Silver belt with a split decision win over Robert Paradero.
In another competitive clash, unbeaten super bantamweight "War Machine" Rodex Piala (9-0, 1 KO), edged tough Cebuano journeyman Jason Canoy Manigos (28-11-2, 19 KO's) for a hard-fought split decision victory.
Also, Brix Piala (7-1, 2 KO's), younger brother of Rodex, out-smarted veteran Zamboangueño featherweight Alan Alberca (12-8, 7 KO's) to claim a unanimous decision triumph.
In addition, unbeaten Flyweight Berland Robles (9-0, 4 KO's) halted in three chapters Francis Jay Diaz (8-6-1, 1 KO) of Bacoor, Cavite, for a corner retirement's RTD stoppage win.
In the first bout of the show, undefeated Cebuano 118-pounder Bryan James Wild (12-0-1, 6 KO's) scored a ten-round lopsided unanimous decision win over Cotabato journeyman "Mr. Pogi" Ryan Rey Ponteras (23-21-3, 12 KO's)
In attendance, enjoying the evening of boxing were former two-division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa, former WBA world champion Joemarie Gamboa, Former ALA head coach former world title challenger Edito Villamor, as well as Cebuano Man of Boxing Dong Secuya, creator of Philboxing and PinoyGreats.
The entertaining event at Hoops Dome in Mactan Cebu, Philippines, was a production of Eva Marie Arquisola of ARQ Sports Promotions.
The author, veteran boxing writer Carlos Costa can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and WhatsApp +639184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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