DESPITE PERCEPTION OF INSTABILITY, CAGAYAN DE ORO SHOWCASES WBO REGIONAL TITLE BOUT TONIGHT
Sonsona, Yap, Laput win in CDO Pre-Fiesta boxing attraction
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 27 Aug 2008
Cagayan de Oro City -- Underscoring that things are back to normal in this part of Mindanao after an instability of war broke out in some parts of the Philippines' largest island the past several weeks, Misamis Oriental governor Oscar Moreno said that tonight's WBO Asia-Pacific Junior Welterweight Title bout between defending champion and local boy Eusebio Baluarte Jr. and Indonesia's Heri Andriyanto will demostrate that things are under control here.
The local MILF rebels broke the peace and order of the island when they recently attacked civilians in some towns of Lanao del Norte and South Cotabato, adjacent provinces of Misamis Oriental where this city is located.
Cagayan de Oro City which is the center of trade and commerce in Northern Mindanao, is celebrating a week-long fiesta with street dancing, exhibits and other regular activities proceeded normally. The city's main thoroughfares came alive yesterday and today with street dancing and float parade attracted thousands of locals and tourists to come out in the streets.
Tonight's big boxing event will be held at Limketkai's Atrium where thousands of people are expected to attend. WBO Vice-President Leon Panoncillo, Jr. has personally come to supervise the main bout. The boxing extravaganza dubbed as "Rumble in Mis-Or 2, The Defense" is organized by the office of Gov. Moreno in partnership with Leonil Lazarito's Leolet Boxing Promotions.
Baluarte (10-0-0 5KOs) is one of the local's brightest hopes and Gov. Moreno is banking on him to bring the province's seal all the way to Las Vegas if he keeps on winning.
On the undercard, Eric Barcelona battles Brix 'Bomb' Ray for the Philippine bantamweight crown while crowd-favorite William George takes on Lotlot Gaviola. Hot young prospect Mark Anthony Geraldo (7-0-0 4KOs) will also see action against the dangerous Rey Villar.
Meanwhile, up-and-coming flyweight Marvin Sonsona (6-0-0 5KOs) made shortwork of Emer Barrientos during last night's 'Bakbakan sa Plaza Divisoria' in downtown Cagayan de Oro as one of the free-to-public shows in celebation of the city's week-long fiesta.
Sonsona sent Barrientos to the canvas with a flurry of unanswered punches at 1:14 of the first round to which Barrientos was unable to beat the referee's count.
In the main event, Marjun Yap of Cebu's ALA stable won by 9th round TKO over veteran Roldan Malinao. Yap and Malinao battled in a highly technical bout in the first seven rounds until Yap sent the fading Malinao to the canvas for the first time in the 8th round the made the crowd alive. Sensing blood, Yap finished Malinao in the 9th round.
In other significant bouts of the evening, Ramie Laput of Digos City's ABA Stable, won by 5th round TKO over Bohol's Tiny Tyson who quit before the 6th round bell rung.
The night's most applauded bout was between Jetro Pabustan of the RP Contenders Gym against Henry Acha of Valencia City in Bukidnon. Pabustan and Acha went toe to toe right from the opening bell and never let up until the end of the 6th round. Pabustan went on to win the very close contest by split decision.
Jessie Cris Morales of RP Contenders Gym, younger brother of Ciso Morales, made a successful debut by winning against Mechael Hatoza via 1st round TKO. Another RP Contenders Gym fighter, Jan-Jan Claveria, also won by 2nd round TKO.
The rest of ABA boxers seeing action, Jun-jun Claveria, JR Cubillan and Robert Udtuhan, also won their respective bouts last night against Rey Morano and Rey Zaldy Calamba and Domingo Macapas.
Bahal Pasaylo of Maasim Sarangani also won by first round TKO over Domingo Macapas of Pagadian City.
(L-R): Leonil Lazarito, Leon Panoncillo, Jr., Eusebio Baluarte, Jr., Gov. Oscar Moreno, Heri Andriyanto, and a couple of local officers during yesterday's presscon at the Grand City Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.
Referee Delbert Peligrino motions Mavin Sonsona to go to a neutral corner after Sonsona dropped Barrientos in the first round during their bout last night at the Cagayan de Oro amphitheatre.
Marjun Yap dropped Roldan Malinao for a ninth round TKO victory.
Ramie Laput (R) attacks Tiny Tyson.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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