Thursday, August 19, 2004 Kayoed in 2 By Rommel C. Manlosa Sun.Star Staff Reporter
WONDER Boy Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista displayed awesome power as he captured the WBO Asia-Pacific bantamweight diadem Tuesday night following a sensational second-round knockout of Thai champion Saensak Singmanassak.
The jampacked Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex witnessed a scary ending after Singmanassak fell hard to the canvas and laid unconscious for several minutes until the medical staff took him to the dressing room on a stretcher.
“This was the third successive time Rey hospitalized his opponent. The first was in Korea in May and then in Japan last June. I see tremendous power and confidence in this boy,” said ALA Boys handler Antonio Lopez Aldeguer after the fight.
Singmanassak traded punches with the 18-year-old fighter from Candijay, Bohol in the opening round. But big shots to the head and the quickness of Bautista slowly weakened the guard of the Thai, who offered little offense toward the dying seconds of the first round.
Bautista sensed victory when he flashed a right straight that hit the chin of Singmanassak early in the second. The ALA Boy then unleashed powerful combinations that kept the Thai on defense.
With nowhere else to go, Singmanassak engaged Bautista in a brawl before the killer came – a straight that opened the Thai’s defense and a wicked right cross to the chin that sent the visitor to the floor for good.
Singmanassak lay sprawled as veteran international referee Teddy Alivio reached the count of 10. Ringside physician Jose Unabia quickly administered first aid to the fallen Thai.
“There was a slight dilatation of his eyes but it was insignificant. He was semi-conscious and after 30 minutes of observation he was okay,” said Unabia, who was assisted by another Cebuano ringside doctor, Armendo Ceniza Jr.
Bautista was officially declared winner by knockout at the 1:43 mark of the second of the scheduled 12-round bout.
Needed oxygen
The medical staff then gave Sinagmanassak oxygen but it took minutes later before he could be taken down from the ring.
“He did hurt me in the first and second rounds but I was determined to win this fight for my paisanos, who were here to support me, and the people of Cebu,” said a jubilant Bautista.
Bautista seemed more dangerous with the exceptional use of body mechanics that made his punches even harder.
“What makes Bautista better than Edito Villamor is that he is mentally tough. He is carefree and very young,” said Aldeguer.
The win was Bautista’s 12th straight victory packed with nine knockout wins to give ALA Gym another regional belt.
Caesar Amonsot, another promising fighter, captured the Philippine Boxing Federation featherweight title following a unanimous decision victory over veteran Arnel Porras.
But the most exciting fight of the night was the TKO win of Korean Seong Woo Park over veteran Rex Marzan. The seesaw battle for supremacy saw Park survive a second-round knockdown with the aid of the bell, while Marzan hit the canvass in the third before the fight was officially stopped at 2:10 of the fifth.
Upset
Meanwhile, Carlo Besares scored an upset win over ALA Boy Rollen del Castillo by majority decision, while Reman Salim beat Noel Songahid by unanimous decision. Danny “Boy” Bontilao scored a majority decision win over Rey Martizano.
The fight between Korean Park Cheon Su and Ruther del Castillo was declared a majority draw after four rounds.
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