ALA BOYS CANILLAS AND BACON KO FOES IN BALAMBAN
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 01 Oct 2009
Rising prospects Hilario “Larry Bon Jovi” Canillas and James Bacon scored stoppage wins Wednesday night in a highly entertaining fight card held in Balamban, Cebu.
Canillas (7-1-0, 6 KO's) knocked out Van Bantillan (7-3-1, 4 KO's) of Iloilo in the second round. Canillas pressured his opponent from the opening bell. In the second, a flurry of punches dropped Bantillan at ring center and the referee reached the ten count at the 2:45 mark.
Canillas campaigns in the superbantamweight division and is a product of ABS-CBN's 'Idol" boxing series. He last saw action against Roger Galicia in Bohol last July 2009 and won by 2nd round TKO.
Super featherweight James Bacon (9-1-0, 6 KO's) won by 4th round TKO over journeyman Melvin Ayudtud (12-20-2, 11KO) of Laguna. Bacon worked behind a crisp jab and effectively launched one-two combinations. Ayudtud went down in round one. He tried to make a fight out of it in the succeeding rounds but Bacon pinned and battered him in his corner as he retreated in the fourth, scoring another knockdown. The referee stopped the contest at the 2:25 mark.
Last March 2009 Bacon figured in a grudge rematch with William Jorge at the Cebu Waterfront Hotel where he won by unanimous decision and avenged his lone career loss. Ayudtud has fought and lost to the now reigning WBA superfeatherweight titlist Jorge Linares four years ago.
In a well fought brawl between two southpaws, Eman Labanza won by unanimous decision over Romano Gelig in six rounds.
The four rounder between Jun Intor vs. Tata Tadena not only provided comic relief but a blood soaked action packed fight as well. An accidental headbutt from Tadena caused a cut over Intor's right cheekbone in the opening round. The fight was punctuated by wild swings that sent Tadena's mouthpiece flying out of the ring in the 3rd round. Blood also started to flow from Intor's right eyelid. Defense became a mere afterthought. Intor's clowning had the crowd roaring with laughter. But in the 4th round, Tadena knocked Intor down. The scores read: 37-37, 37-38 and 36-38 for Tadena's majority decision victory.
Milchar Valiente won by TKO in the second round over Edcel Tunacao. Official time- 1:12.
In the first pro bout of the evening, Jesson Taroja won by unanimous decision over Ricardo Campana in a four rounder. The scores were 39-36 on all three judges. Exciting amateur bouts opened up the festivities.
Top photo: Larry Canillas (L) summersaults to celebrate his 2nd round knockout victory after his opponent Van Bantillan failed to beat the referee's count during their fight at the Balamban Sports Complex Wednesday night.
Canillas sends Bantillan to the canvas.
James Bacon (L) tags Melvin Ayudtud with a left.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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