Gabutan, Handig score twin victories

WBO–ORIENTAL Bantamweight champion Dayer Gabutan made short work of his overweight opponent to retain his crown while Asian Boxing Council minimum weight champ Matteo Handig escaped a split decision to earn a crack of the IBF minimum weight title.

Gabutan simply overpowered Indonesian Lande Olin and finished the challenger in the second round of their 12-round encounter at the La Trinidad gym in the event dubbed ‘Twin Rumble’ for the benefit of St. James High School in Besao, Mt. Province and Kidney patient of La Trinidad, Benguet.

After scoring a first round knock down, Gabutan made sure the Indonesian would not recover in the second round as referee Danrex Tapdasan stopped the contest at 1:53 when Olin turned his back after absorbing numerous punches from Gabutan.

“Nung nakuha ko yung knock down sa first round, nag phasing na ako para makuha ko yung timing ng knock-out kaso biglang tumalikod nung nasaktan ko sya sa second round,” said the 24-year-old Gabutan who hails from Besao, Mt. Province.

In the World Title eliminator match, Handig was crowned the new IBF Pan Pacific Minimumweight Champion after escaping a close split decision against tough Japanese Katsunari Takayama.

Judges Danrex Tapdasan and Rey Danseco both scored the fight 114-113 in favor of Sinwangcha while Judge Somsak Sirianant had it 115-112 in favor of Takayama of the box-off presented by LTBM Highland Boxing Promotions.

“Magaling na boksingero si Takayama kaya nag hesitate din ako na manalo sa laban pero malaking bagay yung pagbawas sa kanya ng puntos sa fourth round,” said Handig who offered the fight to his first newborn son.

Handig and Takayama actually engaged each other in a slug fest with the former Japanese champion suffering a cut in his right eyebrow after absorbing a hook by the Samar bron fighter now based in La Trinidad.

Takayama, however, was deducted a point in the fourth round by Referee Bruce McTavish for repeated pushing in the event backed by Smart, MJ Gacad, PureGold, Beneco, municipality of Besao, Mt. Province, Department of Public Works and Highways, Benguet province, and San Miguel Beer.

The former WBA-WBC world champion Takayama appeared to be the faster, busier and more aggressive fighter throughout the fight but Handig countered with the more telling blows and dominated the earlier rounds.

With the win, Handig’s record improves to 13-5 with 7 KOs while Takayama drops to 24-6 with 10 KOs with Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corp., Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan, and the City Government of Baguio backing the event.