JAYR Raquinel scored a huge upset in South Africa after scoring a second round technical knockout of world-ranked Landi Ngxeke on Oct. 24 (PH time) at the International Convention Centre in East London.

Raquinel was looking for a quick finish as he threw his punches with bad intentions from the get-go. He landed a left uppercut that stunned Ngxeke in the opening round.

In the second round, the 25-year-old Raquinel rocked Ngxeke with a solid left straight and followed it up with another devastating left straight that knocked down the South African flat on his back.

Ngxeke was able to get back on his feet but looked unsteady. Raquinel sensed the end was near and followed it up with some heavy punches that forced referee Lulama Mtya to stop the fight at the 1:40 mark of the second round.

Raquinel, who’s coming off a one-year hiatus, won the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Intercontinental super flyweight belt and improved to 13-2-1 with 10 knockouts. Ngxeke, rated No. 8 by the World Boxing Council (WBC), suffered his first career loss and dropped to 9-1-1 with four knockouts.

Jake Amparo also achieved a rare feat by beating previously unbeaten Mthokozisi Ngxaka by unanimous decision in the undercard.

Amparo, who fights out of the PMI Boxing Gym in Bohol got the nod from all three judges with scores of 77-75, 79-75 and 78-74.

Amparo wasn’t surprised after the decision was announced that he was the winner because Pinoys rarely win in South Africa if the fight goes the distance.

The 25-year-old Amparo is now 11-3-1 with two knockouts, while Ngxaka got his first career defeat and fell to 5-1-1 with two knockouts.

On the other hand, Melvin Manangquil (7-8-4, 1 KO) wasn’t as fortunate as his compatriots as he lost by unanimous decision to Mpumelelo Tshabalala (8-1, 4 KOs).