LANDERO IS NEW PBF STRAW WEIGHT CHAMPION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 30 Dec 2008
Michael Landero is the new Philippine Boxing Federation straw or minimum weight champion following his rousing victory over champion Ruel Lagunero in an entertaining fight card at the Mandaluyong Gym late Saturday night.
In by far the best fight of the evening Landero?s victory was spoiled only by the ridiculous scorecard turned in by judge Romy Yulo who had Lagunero, who took a pounding especially in the second half of the fight, the winner by a 97-94 margin.
Thanks to the scorecards of judges Antonio Valenzuela 98-91 and Ricardo Canlas 96-94, Landero won the title he richly deserved based on an impressive performance.
A product of the Wild Card Gym of longtime boxing man Rod Nazario who steered the career of a 16 year old skinny kid Manny Pacquiao in the mid-nineties until he became the OPBF flyweight champion at the same Mandaluyong Gym with a sensational 5th round KO of Chockchai Chockvivat, Landero and Lagunero traded punches from the opening bell right up to the end of the ten round bout which had the fans cheering wildly.
The solidly built Lagunero started off aggressively and took the initiative in the opening two rounds but Landero who used his height and reach advantage effectively rocked Landero with a perfectly timed left hook in round three while Lagunero wrestled him to the canvas in order to get some breathing time.
Landero who was the quicker of the two fighters connected with some solid shots in the fourth round working to the body and then switching to the head before staggering Lagunero in round five with another stinging left hook.
The champion who realized the tide was turning in the challenger?s favor midway in the bout tried to rip through Landero?s defense with big body shots but the 22 year old who is managed by Nazario?s son Romel was not to be denied and nailed Lagunero with another cracking combination that had the champion reeling around the ring in round nine and hanging on, eventually wrestling Landero to the canvas once again.
With the handsome win Landero improved to 8-4-3 with no knockouts while Lagunero dropped to 8-3-2 with 5 knockouts.
In another entertaining bout undefeated bantamweight Rene Bestudio (6-0-1, 1 KO) scored a unanimous eight round decision over Roel Cuizon (3-2-2, 1 KO) while junior flyweight Eljune Leonardo (6-1, 1 KO) also looked good in another eight round decision over Dino Lelis (4-3-1, 1 KO).
In a junior flyweight bout Quilver Cailing scored an impressive eight round unanimous decision over Joe Galamiton to improve his record to 7-1 with no knockouts.
Cailing is managed by former boxer Aljoe Jaro who has a big promotion on January 11 at the Araneta Coliseum featuring world-rated NABF super bantamweight champion Bernabe Concepcion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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