SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 42: RODEX PIALA FIGHTS PRESCO CARCOSIA FOR THE WBO ASPAC FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 11 Feb 2024
Rodex Piala.
Undefeated fighter Rodex Piala will take on the biggest challenge of his professional career, when he battles Presco Carcosia for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific featherweight title in the main event of "Engkwentro 12 - Binumbahay sa Masbate” boxing card on March 8, 2024 in Cawayan, Masbate.
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The 28-year-old Piala is ready to show the boxing world that he is prepared to capture a regional title. He had a colossal year 2023, when he defeated experienced opponents Jason Canoy Manigos by split decision, Marjhun Tabamo by unanimous decision and Alan Alberca by unanimous decision.
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Piala will be facing one of the toughest if not the strongest opponent, the knockout artist Carcosia. Piala is 10-0 with one knockout, while Carcosia is 12-3-1 with nine knockouts.
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Carcosia is trained in the prominent Sanman Gym in General Santos City. He won two of his three fights last year. He escaped with a split decision win over Arnel Baconaje and conquered Alvin Medura by unanimous decision.
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The 27-year-old Carcosia lost to the world-rated Albert Bell of the USA by a fifth round TKO. His other two losses are from Jai Alexander of Australia in 2020 by split decision and Musashi Mori of Japan in 2022 by unanimous decision.
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KJ Cataraja will fight an eight-rounder against Jun Blazo on February 13, 2024 at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City. Cataraja was supposed to defend his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) super flyweight belt against another world ranking Filipino fighter Jayr Raquinel last November 11, 2023 in Japan.
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But the event was postponed after one of the fighters in the main event, Carlos Flores, failed to show up. The fight was then canceled earlier this year.
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Former ALA Gym star Cataraja's last encounter was on February 11, 2023, wherein he heavily outpointed Edward Heno by unanimous decision in General Santos City. Cataraja is currently ranked No. 10 WBO, No. 11 IBF, No. 13 WBA, and No. 19 WBC.
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Blazo will redeem himself after losing his last two contests. He lost to Japanese Takahiro Tai via a third round knockout in 2022 and lost by majority decision to Benny Cañete.
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The 31-year-old Blazo is a former WBC Asian Continental bantamweight champion. He won the belt in 2019 via a unanimous decision victory over Benezer Alolod. Cataraja has a record of 16-0 with 13 knockouts, while Blazo is 16-8-3 with 12 knockouts.
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The main event will headline former world champion Reymart Gaballo (26-1, 21 KOs) who will defend his WBO Oriental bantamweight belt against the veteran Thai Phai Pharob (35-3, 27 KOs).
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Sports History: February 11, 1990. Mike Tyson fought Buster Douglas, in an event billed as "Tyson is Back!" at the Tokyo Dome. The then-undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion Tyson lost by knockout to the 42:1 underdog Douglas. That bout is widely regarded as the biggest upset in boxing history.
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