?PRINCE? PAGARA KO?S MERLIN IN ALA-COBRA SINULOG BOXING (PHOTOS)
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 21 Jan 2013
CEBU CITY ? ?Prince? Albert Pagara of the ALA Gym kept his unbeaten slate by knocking out Jilo Merlin in the third round of the main event of the ALA-Cobra ?Tunay na Lakas? fight card held Sunday at the Gaisano Country Mall Carpark.
After a probing first round, Pagara found his range and landed heavy hooks to the body and head. In the third, Pagara cornered Merlin and unleashed left and right hooks to the abdomen that sent Merlin crumbling in the neutral corner. He tried to get up but could not beat the count of Referee Ben Necessario, who signaled the end at 1:38.
Pagara is now 15W-0L, 11 KO's while Merlin drops to 12W-15L-2D, 2 KO's.
Top photo: Albert Pagara downs Jilo Merlin in the neutral corner.
Pagara and Merlin in a heated exchange.
Pagara (R) celebrates as the referee waives off Merlin after Merlin was unable to beat the count.
In a tense and bruising ten round struggle, Jerson Mancio outlasted Gerpaul Valero and prevailed by unanimous decision. The fight started as a tactical battle, with Mancio landing well placed body punches and Valero trying to keep him off with his jab. Mancio managed to cut the ring off and avoid Valero?s vaunted left hook. In what would be the best round of the night, Valero stunned Mancio with crisp combos in the 6th round, but Mancio fired back and hurt Valero in the midsection.
With puffiness forming around Mancio?s cheeks, he remained aggressive and the duo continued to trade hard shots until the end of the fight.
The judges had it for Mancio ? 96-94, 96-94 and 97-93. Mancio (17W-3L-3D, 7 KO's), who fights out of the ALA gym, is the Philippine lt. flyweight champion while Valero?s fairy tale 12 fight winning streak came to an end. Valero had a 1W-13L-3D record before he transferred to the Flores Boxing Gym of Mandaue City. He would go on to win the super flyweight category of the 2011 GMA TV Reality show and boxing tournament ?Buhay Boksingero?.
Mancio (L) and Valero.
Mancio (R) wins by unanimous decision.
Jimmy Paypa (L) blocks Marvin Tampus left hook.
ALA Boxing stars (L-R) Milan Melindo, Genesis Servania and Donnie Nietes.
Photos by Dong Secuya.
Jimmy Paypa beat veteran Marvin Tampus by unanimous decision. Paypa?s switch hitting style made him pile up the points for a comfortable 98-92 win on all three judges? cards.
An interesting footnote to this fight was the presence of Michael Domingo as the cornerman of Paypa. Domingo, a former world ranked contender, announced his retirement this month and started his career as a trainer. Domingo knocked out Tampus in one round with a liver shot last March 2012 in Bohol.
Reymund Tabogon knocked down Abel Gayhun with a well-timed right hand in the second round and won by technical decision in round six of a scheduled eight rounder. An accidental clash of heads inflicted a cut on Tabogon?s left eyebrow and ring physician Dr.Jose Unabia recommended the stoppage. Tabogon was well ahead ? 58-55, 59-54 and 58-55.
Bryan Lobitania won by third round TKO over Jamjam Ungon. Lobitania trapped Ungon against the ropes and landed a series of unanswered punches prompting to the stoppage at 1:53.
In an entertaining and well fought four rounder, Rolando Servania beat Joyjoy Formenter by unanimous decision. All three judges scored it 39-37.
Ivor Lastrilla and Freddie Bisande fought to a majority draw. Scores ? 40-38 Lastrilla and two judges had it 38-38.
In the opening bout of the night, Richard Barrios won by unanimous decision over Rolando Sanchez. The scores ? 40-35, 39-36 and 40-35.
Barrios scored a knockdown in round two.
This ?Free to the Public? fight offering has become a welcome part of the annual Sinulog Festival in the city known as the nerve center of boxing in the Philippines. The bouts were supervised by Glen Agena and Celso Miranda of GAB-Cebu.
Among the faces in the crowd: WBO light flyweight world champion Donnie Nietes, WBO International flyweight champion Milan Melindo, WBO Asia-Pacific super bantamweight champion Genesis Servania, OPBF minimumweight champion Merlito Sabillo, OPBF super flyweight champion Arthur Villanueva and Jimrex Jaca.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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