UNBEATEN prospect John Michael Zulueta scored another impressive victory in Thailand after stopping Sittichai Nimnual in the second round to win the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) light flyweight belt at the Spaceplus Bangkok RCA in Bangkok on Sept. 29.
The 27-year-old Zulueta boxed beautifully in the opening round and occasionally landed two-punch combinations. He staggered Nimnual with a solid three-punch combination.
Zulueta continued where he left off in the first round. He landed a vicious uppercut to the jaw of Nimnual and followed it up with a left and right straight combination that dropped the Thai prospect.
Nimnual stood up and beat referee Worawuth Duankhao’s count but Zulueta immediately smothered him with heavy blows that forced the referee to stop the fight at the 1:09 mark.
Zulueta won his second straight fight in Thailand and improved to 14-0-2 with seven knockouts, while Nimnual dropped to 4-3 with three knockouts.
On the other hand, another undefeated Pinoy prospect, Herlan Gomez, is seeing action in Thailand.
The 23-year-old Gomez, who has fought his last three fights in Thailand, is challenging Yutappong Tongdee for his World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia bantamweight strap on Oct. 1 also at the Spaceplus Bangkok RCA.
Gomez won his last two fights in Thailand beating previously unbeaten prospects Parin Luangpon and Sarawut Jiamthong by unanimous decision. Tongdee will be his stiffest test to date.
The 29-year-old Tongdee owns wins against former world title challenger Wicha Phulaikhao and Filipino veteran Ryan Rey Ponteras, who he beat in his last fight by unanimous decision.
Gomez is 5-0 with two knockouts, while Tongdee is 8-0 with four knockouts.