Sunday, October 12, 2008 Rematch calls for Bangoyan vs Otieno By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE Ring War in Davao-Battle of the Undefeated is over. A new champion was hailed.
But the clamor for a rematch between newly crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) International super bantamweight champion Balweg "Davao Hitman" Bangoyan of Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur and dethroned champion Sande Otieno of Nairobi, Kenya resounds.
Bangoyan was declared winner after referee Bruce McTavish stopped the fight at 1:32 of the fifth round upon the advise of ringside physician Dr. Edgar Tan before an elated crowd at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Gym, Davao City Friday night.
Paul Otieno, trainer-coach of Sande Otieno, said: "We didn't like what happened tonight. We want a rematch anytime, anywhere. We can have a rematch even tomorrow. We gave Balweg a chance to fight for a title, we hope that Sande is given a chance for a rematch."
He said Bangoyan's handler, JAS Mayor Alex Wangkay, agreed to a rematch but details of which have yet to be negotiated.
Paul questioned ring physician Dr. Ed Tan's decision to stop the fight on the fifth round. The deep cut on Balweg's upper left eye was caused by an accidental head butt during the second round. He said the fight could have been stopped earlier.
Wangkay, on his part, said he doesn't see any problem for a rematch. But he said he would have his fighter go to Macau first for a non-title fight in December.
"I'd have him fight in Macau for a tune-up match first. I'd like him to also experience to fight abroad. We can talk about the rematch later," he said.
Boxing analyst Quinito Henson said: "I feel like there needs to be a rematch because the fight was not conclusive. It was stopped. A rematch would show us who really is the better fighter."
He went on saying that Bangoyan could have lost, had the fight went on, considering his bad cut.
