SONNY BOY JARO LOSES TITLE AFTER FAILING TO KNOCK OUT OPPONENT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 17 Jul 2012
World Boxing Council flyweight champion Sonny Boy Jaro made it clear prior to his first world title defense that the best assurance of retaining his title against No. 1 contender Yoshiyuki Igarashi of Japan was to win by knockout.
Jaro failed in his KO bid and paid the price as he dropped a split decision to the Japanese challenger at Kasukabe Prefecture in Saitama, Japan, Monday.
Judge David Mendoza of California scored the bout 116-112 for Igarashi while South Korean judge Kyiung Ha Sin had Igarashi the winner 115-113. However, Texas judge Luis Escalona scored the fight for Jaro 116-112.
Jaro tried his best to score a knockout and caught Igarashi with some big shots in the ninth round and opened up a cut above the challenger?s left eye in the eleventh but the game Japanese was ready to brawl and even dropped Sonny Boy Jaro in the 12th round but referee Gelacio Perez of Mexico ruled it a slip.
Jaro failed to duplicate his spectacular 6th round knockout of longtime champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand earlier this year when he dropped the Thai champion four times en route to the stunning upset.
But, as Boxing Scene managing editor Jake Donovan reported ?there was no such magic in Japan although Jaro fought tooth and nail every step of the way.?
Igarashi, like most Japanese boxers who face hard-hitting opponents, worked behind a jab, capitalizing on his height advantage and using quick lateral movements to stay out of trouble.
Donovan reported that Jaro landed the more telling blows but not with enough frequency to win rounds.
In a post fight interview with the Kyodo news agency the newly crowned champion who represented Japan in the 2004 Athens Olympics said ?That?s the first time I have been hit with such heavy punches. I didn?t win this fight with technique or physical abuility but with my mental strength. I want to be able to stick my chest out and say ?I?m the world champion!? That?s more important to me than how many title defenses I can get.?
Despite the painful loss and a dejected corner headed by trainer/promoter and former boxer Aljoe Jaro. Sonny Boy was commended for his sportsmanship as he went out of his way to congratulate Igarashi at the end of the fight and after the decision was announced.
Igarasahi earned the title shot with a unanimous twelve round decision over Mexico?s Wilfredo Uicab last November.
With the loss Jaro who came in over the 112 pound limit and had to shed off one pound eventually scaled 111 pounds which was the same weight as Igarashi who made it on his first try in a fight the WBC said would be ?a big test? for the Filipino who dropped to 34-11-5 with 24 knockouts while Igarashi improved to 16-1 with 10 knockouts.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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