|
Tuesday, January 21, 2003
Batawang wins RP title
By Rommel C. Manlosa
VETERAN banger Bert Batawang finally earned a niche in the annals of boxing after he won the vacant RP junior flyweight title over wily fighter Rodel Quilation Sunday evening at the Cantada Sports Complex in Bagumbayan, Taguig, Metro Manila.
Batawang scored a very lopsided unanimous decision win – 120-108, 118-96, 115-105 from the three judges – highlighted by a four-point deduction against Quilaton due to accidental head butting.
Batawang and Quilaton fought for the vacant title vacated by Wendell Janiola, who will campaign for the IBO title on Feb. 15.
It was a one-sided affair for Batawang, who failed to win the title when he challenged Janiola last July at the Waterfront Hotel.
“Before they left, I told Batawang that his only way to win the title is by knockout. But he failed to score even a knockdown because Quilaton played dirty tactics. Fortunately, Batawang hit him all over plus the deductions that made the affair one-sided,” said manager Sammy Gello-ani.
Fighting with a sprained back, Batawang, who has united the PBF and RP belts, fought with a huge heart. He even got badly bruised by head butts that caused a cut above his left eye and a one-and-a-half inch cut on his forehead.
“I was happy for Bert, because he is a very dedicated boxer. He trains hard, he is a good example of a disciplined boxer and we never had problems with regards to his training and attitude. This (belt) is long overdue for him,” said Gello-ani.
Batawang has now defended the PBF title four times, after Gello-ani plucked him from three years of semi-retirement. In a span of less than two years under the SGG Stable, the 26-year-old hard hitter finally won the RP title after nearly 10 years of boxing.
(January 21, 2003 issue)
Want Sun.Star news on your mobile phone? Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
