MEPRANUM STUNS UNDEFEATED MARQUEZ; LAURENTE ALSO WINS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 Mar 2010
Skilled 22 year old southpaw Richie Mepranum has stunned previously undefeated Hernan “Tyson” Marquez while another talented southpaw Dennis Laurente scored a unanimous decision over Ghana’s Ben Tackie to give Filipino fight fans lots to cheer about on the eve of “The Event” featuring pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and Ghana’s Joshua Clottey.
Mepranum used his slickness to outhustle the aggressive Marquez who is ranked No. 5 by the WBC, No. 6 by the WBA , No. 9 by the WBO and No. 12 by the IBF in a unanimous and comfortable ten round decision in the main event at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine, Texas.
Marquez was making his US debut while Mepranum who has fought in the US a couple of time simply out-boxed the aggressive Marquez with all three judges scoring the fight for the Filipino by margins of 99-91, 98-92 and 96.94.
With the impressive win Mepranum who is from Sarangani where Pacquiao is seeking a congressional seat in the May 10 elections improved to 17-2-1 with 3 knockouts while Marquez dropped tp 25-1 with 18 knockouts.
Laurente earlier scored a unanimous eight round decision over veteran Ben Tackie of Ghana.
At the official weigh in Mepranum came in at 112 ? pounds while Marquez was given two hours to shed off an excess half-a-pound as he checked in at 113 ? pounds.
Marquez won by a 2nd round knockout over Ricardo Armenta last December 19 while Mepranum scored back-to-back decisions in the US beating Cesar Lopez on December 6, 2008 and then sc oring a six round split decision over Ernie Marquez on November 14, 2009.
Mepranum once held the WBO Oriental flyweight title which he won via a twelve round unanimous decision of Tanzania’s Juma Fundi in Maasim, Sarangani on June 14, 2008. Sarangani is where Pacquiao is seeking a congressional seat in the May 10 elections.
Southpaw Dennis Laurente overcames Ghana’s veteran Ben Tackie who dropped to 29-12-1 with 17 knockouts. The 32 year old Laurente improved to 34-3-5 with 17 knockouts. He was coming off an easy 2nd round TKO over Thailand’s Laimongkorn Chuwatana last Januart 23.
Tackie dropped a ten round decision to Matthew Hatton, young brother of Britain’s Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton in his last fight.
Both Mepranum and Laurente who is a fighter of Johnny Elorde trained at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach in Los Angeles and appeared to be in good shape in overcoming two tough opponents.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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