MONTILLA, BARCELONA RETAIN RP CROWNS
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 06 Nov 2005
MANILA--One used brute power, while the other boxed with superb brilliancy as each retained his RP title in the co-main events of the "Fight for Love" card Saturday night at the New San Andres Sports and Civic Center.
Manny Pacquiao's favorite sparmate and Philippine lightweight boss Fernando Montilla put down challenger Dexter Delada twice in the second round, survived a knockdown in the third, before taking the bejesus out of Delada with two more knockdowns in the fourth as he retained the RP 135-lb title following a give-and-take war that had the fans enjoying every bit of the action at a card aimed at raising funds for ex-world champ Luisito Espinosa.
After a close opening round, the Indonesia-born Montilla immediately got down to business with a big right uppercut that sent Delada on the seat of his pants. A flurry of body shots moments later downed the Cebu fighter once again but the bell sounded to save him from early defeat.
Early in the third, Delada caught Montilla with a big left, sending the defending champ down and troubled. After beating referee Bruce Mctavish's count, Delada went in for the kill, but could not finish off the talented Montilla.
"Delada could have been the RP champ at the moment. I know, as I was counting him, that Montilla was in deep, deep trouble. Delada came so close to knocking Montilla out in the third," said referee Bruce McTavish after the fight.
By the fourth, Delada was caught early by a glancing right that sent him reeling to the ropes and on the seat of his pants. After beating the count, Montilla unleashed crisp punches that ended the bout after Delada was felled by a big left that sent him down face first to the canvas.
RP superfly king Eric Barcelona, now promoted by North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Pi?ol, boxed brilliantly in the early rounds, but had to survive a seventh-round knockdown before eking out a hard-earned split decision win over tough-as-nails Celso Danggod.
After an impressive opening round, Barcelona was warned by referee Virgilio Garcia for low blows in the second, sent down Danggod in the dying moments, although the referee did not rule it a knockdown.
Barcelona coasted to rounds three through five using superior skills, before action was halted in the sixth after a nasty cut on Danggod's head caused by a headbutt started bleeding profusely.
In the ensuing round, Danggod caught Barcelona with three shots to the face capped by a right, sending the defending champ down for the count. Both were downed in the canvas in the dying seconds after wrestling each other.
Barcelona took rounds eighth and ninth, but what seemed like a knockdown scored by Danggod in the tenth round was not ruled legit.
Danggod then took the initiative in the penultimate round, as a big welt started to get noticeably visible in Barcelona's left eye.
Barcelona then coasted through the last round, and even scored what seemed like a knockdown which was not ruled such by the referee.
Barcelona, which will most likely vie for the Pan-Asian Boxing Association superfly title in December, took a split decision win via scores of 113-112 (Epe Almeda), 115-111 (Henry Verniz) while Ricardo Canlas saw it 112-114 in favor of Danggod.
In the other bouts, Robert Rubillar prevailed on a split decision win over Dennis Juntillano; Albert Alcoy took a majority decision verdict over Rex Penalosa; Tommy Terado stopped Danny Linasa after three knockdowns in the 8th; Mercito Gesta drew with Rey Llagas in the second round; Rommel Bongon won by split decision over Edrin Dapudong.
Meanwhile, a young fighter from Sarangani Province, Reche Mepranum, a protege of the Mayor Lopez Stable, impressed ringsiders after his four-round unanimous decision over Jose Samson Martin Jr.
END
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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