RINGSIDE STORY: Jose Ocampo Wins WBO Oriental Title in Thailand
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 26 Apr 2011
PETCHABUN, Thailand -- In spectacular fashion, Filipino superfeather Jose Ocampo of General Santos City came from behind to impressively destroy the WBO #2 lightweight in the world Thai Tor Silachai to claim the WBO Oriental Title Monday in Petchabun, Thailand.
As soon as the bell rang in the first round, it was an intense battle in which both fighters traded power shots after power shots. However, it was the Thai warrior who was by far the superior fighter pinning the Filipino against the ropes and punishing him with solid sustained attacks.
Ocampo seemed on the way to a sure defeat while absorbing a continuous rain of Thai knuckle, but never backing away nor refusing close quarters combat.
Then, it was a solid, precise left straight to the mid-section of Tor Silachai by the end of round 4 that hurt the Thailander sending him to the minute break in obvious discomfort.
Top photo: Jose of Ocampo (R) of the Philippines puts the pressure on Thor Silachai of Thailand during the WBO Oriental title fight Monday in Pechabun, Thailand.
Jose Ocampo (L) and trainer Emil Romano are all smiles after Monday's victory.
Photos by Carlos Costa.
That paved the way for what was about to occur in the ring of Phetchabun, Thailand as fith round was ruled by Ocampo who was now scoring clear left uppercuts and vicious combinations as the impossible victory was now appeared reachable.
An impressive powerful combination sent the WBO Oriental champion Tor Silachai to the canvas for the first time and even though he beat the count and was allowed to continue it was all matter of time before the Thai would succumbed to the pressure.
Tor Silachai went down hard for the second and final time in that agonizing sixth round, laying down in his own corner prompting the Thai referee to declare a technical KO at the 2:06.
"I knew I could do it! Thanks be to God. And thanks to my trainer (Emil Romano)", said an emotional new WBO Oriental lightweight champion after the battle.
"Yes, it was a tough fight. Jose is not even a lightweight. He is superfeather. We took this fight because it was a fight against the #2 in the world. And I knew that he was in good shape and he had a big chance to win," said the proud trainer.
And Romano added "he was always eating, even before the weigh-in. That's how we made it to the lightweight. But his next fight will be as a super feather. 130 lbs is where he is stronger and faster. Today is a great day. We are so happy, can't wait to get back home."
In the preliminary fight Sarangani fighter Pol Apolinario lost by KO in round 2 to WBO Asia Pacific Youth bantamweight champion Pungluang Sor Singyu of Thailand. Official time of stoppage was 1:58.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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