Monday, October 13, 2008 Bangoyan offered a fight in US By Charles A. Maxey
NEWLY crowned World Boxing Council (WBC) international super bantamweight champion Balweg Bangoyan has been offered a fight in Las Vegas next year.
Jose Abad Santos Mayor Alexander Wangkay said Wakee Salud, one of the top boxing promoters in Cebu, made the offer for his prized fighter to bring his skills before an international audience.
Wangkay, however, didn't give further details about the offer except to say that it will be under Bob Arum's Top Rank promotions.
"We are still looking for any available opponent," Wangkay, who handles Bangoyan, told Sun.Star.
Bangoyan, the 21-year-old fighter from Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur, dethroned Sande Otieno of Kenya for the WBC international belt Friday night at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Gym.
Bangoyan won via a unanimous five-round technical decision when the fight was stopped in the fifth round and the Filipino bleeding from a cut above his left eye.
The cut was caused by an accidental head butt in the second round where Otieno was deducted a point. Bangoyan was leading in all the judges' scorecards, 48-45, when the bout was halted by referee Bruce McTavish.
Bangoyan scored the fight's only knockdown in the opening round, flooring the Otieno with a flurry of punches that elicited thunderous cheers from the highly appreciative crowd that included Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Ra. Cagas.
Otieno accepted the verdict, but his trainer, Paul Otieno, rued the decision and calls for a rematch immediately mounted.
"Balweg was cut on the second round. He was bleeding but he was allowed to continue with the fight on the third, fourth, and fifth rounds. His cut was already deep, why was he allowed to fight after that cut," Otieno blurted out.
"Why was the fight stopped only after the fifth round? It could have been stopped on the third or fourth. Why on the fifth? If it was stopped on the fourth, it could have even be a draw," the trainer added.
He said Sande fell hard on the first round but he came back strong on the following rounds. He claimed his fighter was denied a fair judgment.
"That fast punch from Balweg sent him down but he came up. He came up strong. I'm very proud of what he did out there, standing up from a bad fall. My fighter is a warrior. He's taking the loss with a strong heart," Otieno said.
Boxing analysts, Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Piñol and Quinito Henson, were one in saying that had the fight went on, Otieno would have retained his belt.
Both also hailed the successful event co-promoted by Wangkay and Davao City Councilor Paolo Z. Duterte.
"It was a good fight. Balweg performed very well but his inexperience showed through. I think his corner made a wrong move in making him back off after that knockdown. He could have went straight to Otieno and even possibly pull off a knockout. It was a mistake to allow Otieno get back," Piñol said.
Otieno, according to him, had over 100 amateur fights before turning professional.
But Piñol credited Bangoyan's fighting spirit, the trademark of every Filipino fighter. He believes that the Davao pug has the makings of a great world champion in the future.
"He is young. He's got the heart. He can be the next star someday, but he has a lot to do to be the next Manny Pacquaio," Piñol said.
Wangkay acknowledged his boxer has to improve a lot and that he is open to a rematch.
"We can give him (Otieno) a rematch if he wants it," Wangkay said.
