WBO vice president for Asia Leon Penoncillo said Mepranum will definitely go up in the ratings and could soon take a crack at the WBO flyweight crown now being held by Omar Narvaez of Argentina.
"Richie will probably climb up the top 15 in the flyweight class," he told Salven Lagumbay, one of the judges who scored the fight.
Mepranum established his rhythm in the first round and had Fundi backpedaling after being tagged by a flurry of combination.
Mixing speed and accuracy, the local boxing idol here landed strong hooks to body of Fundi.
In the fourth round, Fundi caught Mepranum with a left jab and a right straight that momentarily stopped the Filipino champion on his track.
The rest of the rounds clearly went Mepranum's way.
