MEPRANUM BACK ON TRACK WITH WIN VS LEON
By Winchell Campos
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 26 Sep 2011
Mepranum.
LOS ANGELES, CA--In his first and only fight yet this year Richie Mepranum of Sarangani province scored a unanimous decision victory against veteran Mexican Valentin Leon Saturday at the Foro Promo Casa in Mexicali, Baja California in Mexico.
Mepranum, sidelined and inactive for the last 10 months since winning another six-round tune-up bout in November last year, took a fight without knowing who he will be facing in Mexico. Only after traveling by land for six hours Thursday night and arriving in Mexico in the wee hours of Friday morning did he get to know the identity of his opponent.
He could have been matched against a lion or faced another young contender out to pad win-loss records but luckily, it was the aging Leon, the 32-year-old battle-proven fighter from Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico.
Despite being tired from the land travel and making weight on the same day, Mepranum made a strong statement that he is back on track for another shot at a world title in the future.
Leon, who has lost more than half of his 50 pro fights, has faced every big name in the light flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight divisions. He is the veritable gatekeeper of the lower weight classes having lost in past fights to reigning champions Brian Viloria, Hernan Marquez, Giovanni Segura and Ulises Solis. He has also faced other big names and former champions and/or contenders Hugo Cazares, Omar Soto, Gilberto Keb Baas, Muhammad Rachman, Jesus Iribe, Eric Ortiz and Julio Cesar Miranda among many others.
Against all odds, Mepranum traveled by car to Mexico with his trainer Paquito Tinagsa, both fighter and coach reuniting only in the last week heading towards fight night. Still, Mepranum persevered with his newly-born baby and wife back home in the Philippines in mind. They did not even have provisions for eventual cuts. Fortunately, a cutman did not have to be present in this particular fight.
Completing his sacrifice for his family despite facing uncertainty, Mepranum improved to 24-2. He hopes to land in bigger bouts soon.
Mepranum failed to win in his last world title bid last year against Julio Cesar Miranda, also in Mexico.
This time, Mepranum made sure he won't get sidetracked against the more experienced Leon. He knocked down the game and durable opponent in the fourth and fifth rounds. Leon survived getting knocked out in the sixth even as the quick-tiring Mepranum tried to finish strong.
The 24-year-old Mepranum, one of the more promising boxers from the Philippines, once scored a huge upset over the previously unbeaten and current champion Hernan Marquez, the WBA flyweight title holder on March 12, 2010.
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