Mobile Home | Desktop Version




Jaca loses to Honmo for OPBF title

By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 21 May 2006

TOKYO--Jimrex Jaca started strong and put up a competitive stand, but was bothered by cuts caused by headbutts most of the second part of the 12-round bout here to lose via a close unanimous decision to Japanese Nobuhito Honmo in their showdown for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super-featherweight title at the Korakuen Hall.

The three judges saw the bout 117-114, 116-112, and 116-113 all in favor of the fast-moving and defense specialist Honmo, who is currently ranked WBC no. 6 and WBA no. 9.

The title was recently vacated by Filipino Randy Suico, who decided to move up to the lightweight division.

Jaca, who was backed by Darlington and Cafe Puro in his quest for the regional title, immediately gained the upperhand at the get-go, peppering Honmo with body shots in the first round that had the Japanese backpedalling for safety. Jaca won the round on all three judges` scorecards as he followed the instructions of trainers Buboy Fernandez and Robert Bubuli.

Honmo slightly recovered in the second and third round, winning on the judges` cards, before Jaca took the fourth witha big left that had Honmo bleeding profusely following the legal punch.

The Japanese, however, regained his composure in the fifth and sixth, although an accidental clash of heads had the Filipino bleeding from the left eyelid. Jaca retaliated by winning the seventh frame, but was visibly affected by the cut.

`In fact, Jaca had two cuts due to headbutts, there was also one on the right eye,` said boxing division chief Emmanuel Flores, who was at ringside.

Honmo took the eighth and ninth rounds, before they battled to a close tenth. Honmo won the eleventh before the two fighters closed out a very close final round.

`Jaca is still young and will bounce back`

Jaca`s manager Rex `Wakee` Salud, however, did not lose hope, and indicated that his young ward will bounce back from the defeat and learn his lessons well.

`I`m sure he`ll return with a bang. He`s still a work in progress, and he`ll bounce back,` said Salud after the fight.

Salud is putting Jaca next against Mexican Adrian Valdez as an undercard to the July 2 Manny Pacquiao-Oscar Larios showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.

If successful, Jaca is expected to campaign in the United States, where he will train at the Wild Card Gym of trainers Freddie Roach and Eric Brown.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.

Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
    Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
    Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
    Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
    Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
    By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
    Thu, 02 Oct 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
    Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
    Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 01 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
    By Eric Armit, Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Canelo Alvarez Facing Extended Layoff After Crawford Loss; Surgery Confirms Injury Rumors
    By Dong Secuya, Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Dante Stone is last American standing in Inaugural WBC Grand Prix
    Tue, 30 Sep 2025
  • Age Defying Triumph: At Age 50 Toshihiko Era Wins World Title
    By Carlos Costa, Tue, 30 Sep 2025