Monday, January 15, 2007 Malcolm loses title in Japan
ROLLY “Matshushita” Lunas was aggressive from the start, and it paid off as he scored an upset over countryman Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tuñacao and snatch the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight title last Saturday at the Korakuen Hall in Japan.
Lunas scored a majority technical decision win after the fight was stopped due to cuts on Tuñacao’s head and face.
Lunas, who adopted a new ring name after moving his camp in Japan, knocked down Tuñacao with a vicious right in the second and put the Cebuano in trouble on the seventh on his way before the fight was officially stopped at the end of the 10th round of a scheduled 12 round contest.
The scorecards read 97-94 and 97-95 for Lunas and a 95-95 draw.
Cocky
Tuñacao, who is more skillful than Lunas, was too cocky and overconfident when the challenger landed a strong and right that put down the champion on the seat of his pants.
The 28-year-old Mandaue fighter stood up to continue the fight, this time taking care of business seriously to dominate the next rounds.
But, it was not the same Tuñacao, who once won the WBC flyweight belt when he stood toe-to-toe with the desperate Lunas, who later took control of the seventh to the 10th round.
On the fifth, Tuñacao suffered a cut between the eyes after a head collision, another cut on the forehead in the ninth and had two more cuts on the 10th.
At the end of the 10th round, the ringside physician advised the stoppage of the fight following four ugly lacerations.
Wrong
It was Tuñacao, who asked the ringside doctor to stop the fight after believing he was ahead on points, but the judges scored otherwise.
It was the second defeat of the former amateur boxing standout, whose first defeat was handed by the current WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wongkonjam. Tuñacao collected 10 wins since he lost his WBC 112lb belt.
In the undercard, Philippine bantamweight champion Michael Domingo suffered a split decision loss (57-59, 57-58, 58-57) to Kazuyuki Ichikawa after six rounds.
Japan-based Amercian Charles Bellamy knocked out RP No.10 welterweight contender Jody Noda at the 1:12 mark of the second round.
While Philippine No.1 featherweight contender Michael Farenas scored a unanimous decision win over Takuro Matsubara after four rounds. (RCM)
