ASENJO SUFFERS 3RD ROUND TKO IN WBO TITLE BID
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 May 2011
Rommel ?The Little Assassin? Asenjo found out that bravery was not enough when he suffered a 3rd round TKO at the hands of champion Raul ?Rayito? Garcia in a WBO minimum weight title fight in Foro Polanco, Mexico City, Sunday.
To add to the joyous celebration of Mexican fight fans, Garcia?s twin brother Ramon ?Hirales? Garcia stopped Colombia?s Jesus Geles in the 4th round to win the WBO junior flyweight title for a historic first for Mexico.
The only other set of twins to win world titles were Thailand's Hall of Famer Khaosai Galaxy, the WBA super flyweight champion with a record of 48-1, 42 knockouts and WBA bantamweight champion Kaokar (24-2, 18 KO's) who lost his title to Filipino two-division world champion Luisito Espinosa by a 1st round knockout on October 18, 1989.
Dennis Canete, vice president of ALA Promotions told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in an overseas telephone conversation that Asenjo was the aggressor at the start but that when he ?got tagged in the third round? it changed the complexion of the fight.
He said it was a good experience for the 21 year old who cried after the loss but received commendation for his bravery even though his manager, former North Cotabato governor Manny Pinol reported that Garcia ?pummelled Asenjo with a barrage of punches in the 3rd prompting the referee (Raul Caiz Jr) to step in and stop the fight.?
Pinol said the 28 year old southpaw Raul used his jab ?to pepper the obviously immobile Asenjo who kept on coming forward but was not throwing enough punches.?
In a post fight interview Asenjo said "I could see the punches coming but I could not move."
WBO president Francisco ?Paco? Valcarcel went to the dressing room and consoled Asenjo telling him "You are young and brave and you could come back."
Canete commended Caiz Jr for the stoppage after Asenjo failed throw any punches while pinned against the ropes by Garcia.
Garcia nailed Asenjo with two vicious uppercuts and caught the Filipino with a solid left that dropped the game challenger. Garcia went in for the kill connecting with another hard left and a cracking right hook to stagger Asenjo who failed to fight back forcing the referee to prevent him from suffering any further harm.
Asenjo together with his trainer and manager will travel to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao defend his WBO welterweight title against Shane Mosley at the MGM Grand on May 7.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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