Tuesday, January 23, 2007 Batawang scores 1st round knockout
FORMER World Boxing Association (WBA) Pan-African light-flyweight champion Bert Batawang disposed of Ping Ping Tepura in 2:48 of the first round to fortify his chances to fight for the world title in the World Cup Boxing in mid-2007.
The SGG Stable fighter Batawang released a right uppercut in the middle of a heated exchange that brought Tepura to his knees. Tepura never recovered as referee Teddy Alivio counted him out in the main event of the SGG Sports Promotions and Viva Sports Sinulog Boxing presentation last Sunday at the Gaisano Country Mall Car Park.
Pressure
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) No.13 contender Batawang had a hard time in the early part of the fight as the taller Tepura of Liloan kept the veteran knockout artist with precise straights and hooks.
However, Batawang quickly neutralized his disadvantage as he kept piling the pressure with crisp straights and body punches before unleashing the knockout punch that ended the scheduled 10-round contest abruptly.
His manager and promoter Sammy Gello-ani is now favoring his ward to fight Hugo Cazares over another Cebuano sensation Rodel Mayol in the World Cup Boxing.
“We’ll Bert has proven himself to us for many years now. He is a good fighter and right now he is very ripe. Honestly, now I am favoring him over Rodel because he is my fighter and this (World Cup Boxing) is our promotion. But I still had to ask Mayol’s manager if he could allow his fighter to fight in the card. But if they would give me too much hassle, then Batawang will fight Cazares,” Gello-ani said.
In the undercard, Batawang’s stable mate and the former Philippine flyweight champion Federico Catubay also pulled a short victory following a technical knockout win (TKO) over the bloodied Nelson Guindolan of Davao City at the 2:12 mark of the fourth round.
Tip-top shape
Nic Banal, older brother of young sensation AJ, redeemed his knockout loss last November with a TKO win over Ranie Pamatian of Butuan City at the 2:03 of the second round.
Banal, who is now fighting in tip-top shape, was precise and accurate from the start, broke the nose bridge of Pamatian, forcing the Butuan City fighter to yield the fight.
Another SGG Stable fighter, Rogen Flores, displayed his supremacy in skills and power over Allan Dugang to pull a TKO win at the 2:26 mark of the third round.
Nelson Llanos, however, did not frustrate the visiting Butuan fighters as he scored a knockout victory over Rasheid Bacus in just 2:04 of the first round. (RCM)
