AJ Paciones Stops Refugio, Claims WBA Asia Strap in Vietnam
By Carlos Costa PhilBoxing.com Mon, 21 Aug 2023
AJ Paciones wins in Vietnam.
Young Filipino 108-pound fighter Arvin Jhon "AJ" Paciones (5-0, 4 KO's), stopped fellow Pinoy, former belt-holder Jonathan Refugio (22-10, 5 KO's), to lift the WBA Asia Light Flyweight Title Sunday, August 20, at the plush Saigon Sports Club in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
As Paciones had already taken control of the war, landing damaging blows to his opponent's mid-section and head, Refugio decided not to come out for the action of round seven, handing the TKO win to the promising Cebu-native fighter.
With the victory, AJ Paciones successfully scores the first title win of his career, paving the way for more excitement to come.
The hard-hitting 18-year-old is trained by his dad and coach former warrior "Do Dong" Paciones.
Father and Son. Filipino Coach Do Dong talking to his fighter son AJ Paciones during the battle in Vietnam. The two went on to claim victory.
In another title clash, unbeaten Vietnamese Hong Dat Vo (6-0, 4 KO's) scored a clear twelve-chapter unanimous decision win over brave Filipino journeyman Ernie Sanchez (21-19-2, 12 KO's) to claim the WBA Asia Lightweight Belt.
Vietnamese Hong Dat Vo decisioned journeyman Ernie Sanchez to conquer the WBA Asia 135 Strap.
Also, taller Avzalbek Kuranbaev (8-1-1, 6 KO's) of Tajikistan dropped and stopped Gensan veteran Adam Diu Abdulhamid (18-14) for a round six knockout win to conquer the WBA Asia South Super Welterweight Crown.
A rough attack to the head and body dished out by the Tajik fighter rocked Abdulhamid to the canvas, getting him on his knees unable to regain the vertical, forcing him listen the third man's full 10-second count.
In a supporting bout, lanky Kellian Jacob Sisovic (2-0, 0 KO's), scored an uneventful 6-round unanimous decision win over crafty and durable Indonesian super veteran Iwan Key (12-30-3, 1 KO) of the Jack Amisa stable.
Finally, in the strange, rather bizarre result of the night, Thailand fighter Chayanon Phothijun (7-4, 5 KO's) abandoned battle at the beginning of round eight, refusing to engage his Vietnamese opponent The Long Trinh (5-0, 5 KO's).
The confusing battle was in fact rather competitive till the unexpected, abrupt ending, which handed The Long Trinh the WBC Asia Silver Middleweight title. Fans may watch video of the fight and get their own conclusions.
The full show may be watched in the following link from the promoter's YouTube channel:
The evening of boxing in beautiful Ho Chi Minh was a production of Vietnam's Shadow Entertainment.
The author, boxing reporter Carlos Costa, can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and WhatsApp +639184538152.
