ESPINO DECISIONS AGUELO FOR THE GAB PHL FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 07 Jan 2013
Espino.
Cirilo Espino won the vacant Games and Amusements Board Philippine featherweight title by a unanimous decision over Adonis Aguelo. The title fight was held at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology Gym in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. It was a title fight between Aguelo the number one contender and Espino the number two contender of the GAB ratings.
The title was vacated by Michael Fare?as who moved up to the higher superfeatherweight division. Fare?as fought for the WBA world superfeatherweight title against Takashi Uchiyama in Japan which resulted in a technical draw. He also challenged Yuriorkis Gamboa for the the interim WBA superfeatherweight title and lost during the undercard of the fourth Pacquiao-Marquez encounter in Las Vegas, Nevada.
According to manager Willie Flores, Aguelo exerted so much effort in reducing to 126 lbs. to stay within the featherweight limit. He has ballooned to 145 lbs. and had to trim down in a short period of time. It resulted in a rather sluggish fight for the Maasin City native enroute to a deficit in points.
Espino, who hails from Sarangani and is now fighting out of Lipa City, Batangas, used his ring brilliance to pin Aguelo and slowed him down. The 30-year-old grizzled fighter sent Aguelo down to the canvas in the sixth round. The 24-year-old Aguelo immediately got up but could not penetrate the tight defense and could not go with the offensive blows of the fighter who has 31 fights in his career.
Espino raised his professional record to 18-11-2 (11 KOs) slate. He became Philippine champion in his first title bout. Prior to the title win, he lost to Shogo Ishikawa on November 11, 2012 in Japan by a unanimous decision. He won over Masatoshi Kotani by 9th round TKO on July 8, 2012 also in Japan. He lost to Carlos Lopez of Timor Leste on June 3, 2012 for the WBO Asia Pacific superbantamweight title by majority decision in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Aguelo?s record dipped to 18-8-1 with 11 KO wins. This is his second failed attempt for the GAB Philippine championship. He failed in his first try for the Philippine featherweight crown when he lost to Vinvin Rufino in Pasay City in 2010 by majority decision.
Aguelo hails from Barangay Matin-ao of Maasin City and is the son of the former village chief Gregorio Aguelo, himself a former boxer. It was his father who first introduced him the basics of boxing and he was later turned over by his father to the Maasin City Sports Council under the late trainer Tiny Espina. He turned professional at the age of 19 under the Rex Wakee Salud boxing stable.
This writer advised Flores to let Aguelo move to the higher superfeatherweight division. His body weight has increased considerably and is no longer fit for the featherweight category. Next in line is a possible Philippine Boxing Federation superfeatherweight championship in Maasin City in May.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Mason Storm: Abdullah Butchers Nakathila in Norfolk Showcase
Sun, 08 Jun 2025Return of the comeback
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 08 Jun 2025MANNY PACQUIAO IN CANASTOTA, NY (PHOTOS)
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 08 Jun 2025Introducing The Spartan Series: Vegas Fight Experience — Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
Sun, 08 Jun 2025RESULTS FROM TONIGHT’S “HALL OF FAME FIGHT NIGHT” PRESENTED BY SALITA PROMOTIONS & ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT LIVE ON DAZN AT THE TURNING STONE RESORT CASINO
Sat, 07 Jun 2025Davis vs De Los Santos: The Fight That Never Was
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 07 Jun 20252 Filipino grandmasters join Touchmove chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 07 Jun 2025Keyshawn Davis Fight Canceled After Weight Miss, Mason-Nakathila Elevated to Main Event
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 07 Jun 2025Eumir Marcial Set to Battle Alexis Gaytán in Pacquiao's Comeback Show
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Jun 2025SUNDAY: Fabio Turchi-Milans Volkovs Cruiserweight Showdown Headlines Italy Fight Card LIVE in the U.S. on ESPN+
Sat, 07 Jun 2025Bomogao KOs Rubio in 1st round
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 07 Jun 2025REYES CUP SET FOR ELECTRIFYING RETURN TO MANILA, OCTOBER 16–19
Sat, 07 Jun 2025King's Promotions June 19th Card at Wind Creek Event Center is Postponed Card Rescheduled for September 5th
Sat, 07 Jun 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 7 - AMATEUR BOXING CAREER OF MUHAMMAD ALI
By Maloney L. Samaco, Fri, 06 Jun 2025Indiana, Haliburton Do It Again, Pacers Shock OKC on the Road, 111-110
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 06 Jun 2025