GONZALES RETAINS PBF TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 12 Feb 2007
Philippine Boxing Federation super bantamweight champion Sonny Gonzales retained his title with a third round knockout victory over tough challenger Dante Cantiga in an exciting fight card to mark the 13th anniversary of the proclamation of Mandaluyong as a city and the 62nd Liberation Day.
Promoted by a newcomer to boxing, the respected and well-known Mandaluyong City resident Jay San Pedro who recently opened the excellent Tiger City Gym, the fight card was a hit because of the fine matchmaking which thousands of fans who packed the Mandaluyong City gym enjoyed.
The lanky Gonzales engaged Cantiga in several furious exchanges before finally ending the challenger?s hopes at 2:10 of the third round. With the win Gonzales who is ranked No. 7 by the Games & Amusements Board improved his record to 11-7-3 with 3 knockouts.
In another bout which was exciting while it lasted former PBF super flyweight champion Jun Talape and former Asian Boxing Council champion Sherwin Mandahinog traded big shots before the vicious body punching of the southpaw Talape rendered crippled Mandahinog who surrendered at 1:04 of the second round and lost by a TKO. With his impressive win Talape improved his record to 14-5 with 6 KO?s.
In another slam-bang bout lion-hearted Richard Laano slugged it out with hard-hitting southpaw Richard Olisa to score a well-deserved unanimous decision over ten rounds. Laano caught the aggressive Olisa with an unexpected right straight that sent Olissa staggering across the ring and down in round three. In a furious exchange in round six both fighters were groggy at different moments in the round as the fans roared. In round eight Olissa lost his mouthpiece after Laano nailed him with a solid punch and in the following round once again lost his mouthpiece before being knocked down and saved by the bell. Referee Cris Odullo scored it 94-93, Salvador Lopez 94-92 and Ricardo Canlas 96-91 all for Laano.
Promising flyweight Richard Garcia boxed his way to an impressive win over rugged Mario de Asis who used every tactic in the book to try and frustrate the RP No. 12 including low blows and head-butts. But Garcia kept his cool, decked de Asis with a perfect left hook after a flurry of punches in round nine and went on to win by lopsided margins of 98-90, 97-91 and 98-91.
The fights which were sponsored by Tanduay, the No.1 Rhum, Pagcor and PCSO will be telecast on the top-rated boxing show ?The Main Event? which moves to NBN Channel 4 in March which is building up its sports programming for which it has a well-known history.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Sumalinog Brothers Score Wins in Bohol; Sign with Monty Flores (PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa, Thu, 05 Feb 2026MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS ANNOUNCES AGREEMENT WITH TEAM BOXING LEAGUE
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Trifon Petrov unveils the signing of another USA Team member in Ariana Carrasco
Thu, 05 Feb 2026Jerome Gonzales off to a marvelous start in J&P 10 Ball Cup at Pacman's Cue Club
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Feb 2026DCL amateur MMA on Feb. 21 at Sta. Lucia Mall
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 05 Feb 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026