MORENO DOMINATES LUNAS, RETAINS WBA TITLE
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 31 Oct 2008
PANAMA CITY -- WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno from Panama made a successful title defense by scoring a wide 12-round unanimous desicion over strong Filipino challenger Rolly "Matsushita" Lunas.
The defending champion "Chemito" Moreno (24-1-1) was simply too fast, too smart and too accurate for the courageous Filipino fighter.
The title fight, which headed the "Noche de Fantasmas" card, took place in the Centro de Convenciones Figali off the Panama Canal on Oct 30 (Friday morning in Manila).
There were no knock downs during the bout.
The score cards were 119-109, 118-110 and 120-108 all in favor of the Panamanian.
For Moreno, this was the second title defense of the WBA bantamweight crown he won over undefeated Ukranian powerhouse Wladimir Sidorenko (21-1-2) in D?sseldorf last May 31.
Rolly "Matsushita" Lunas from Albay Province, Philippines, remains the OPBF bantamweight champion and his fighting record now stands at 25-7-1.
This title match was the 4th time that a Panamanian defeated a Filipino fighter in a world championsip bout. So far the count is 4-0 in favor of Panama.
After the entertaining fight, Panama boxing fans rewarded the Pinoy fighter Rolly Lunas with rounds of aplause as WBA bantamweight champion "Chemito" Moreno declared to the media that "the Filipino is strong."
Fans were delighted to have a Filipino fighter competing in their country as most Panamanians appreciate the sportmanship and prestige of Filipino boxers.
That explains why a large number of Panamanian fans, including the legendary Roberto Duran, favor Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao in his upcoming December 6 fight with boxing's golden boy Oscar de la Hoya.
Another popular figure in Panama is WBO bantamweight king and two division world champion Gerry Penalosa of the Philippines.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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