FUENTES RETAINS RP FLYWEIGHT TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 08 Oct 2008
Tough Rocky Fuentes retained his Philippine flyweight title with an eighth round TKO victory over Louie Bantigue at the Bantayan Multi Purpose Center in Bantayan Island, Cebu over the weekend.
According to respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer of the ALA Gym for whom Fuentes fights said the champion "showed signs of rustiness in the early rounds" since his last fight was in December 2007 and some scheduled fights this year were postponed or called off. As a result Bantigue took the early rounds until Fuentes caught him with a solid shot in the sixth round.
From that point on, the power of Fuentes proved too much and Bantigue caved in forcing the referee to call a halt in round eight.
With the win Fuentes improved his record to 22-6-2 with 14 knockouts while Bantigue who suffered his third straight loss this year dropped to 11-11-5 with 4 knockouts. Bantigue had earlier dropped a ten round unanimous decision to Eden Sonsona on August 24 after losing in an eight round bout against Richie Mepranum.
In another bout on the same card, 22 year old Fernando Otic scored a second round knockout over 26 year old Jesar Ancajas to improve to 10-4 with 8 knockouts. Ancajas fell to 14-17-2 with 7 knockouts according to boxrec.com.
Newcomer Joel ?Yao Ming? Zaspa won by a unanimous decision in an eight round bout against Arnel Balicuatro who was coming off a first round KO at the hands of Arnel Dunal last July 19. It was Zaspa?s second win in three fights with no losses and one draw with one knockout to his name.
Top photo: Rocky Fuentes (R) tags Louie Bantigue with a straight left in the bit of action from their fight last Sunday in Bantayan Island in Cebu. Photo by King Catriz.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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