THE Philippines had an awful weekend in international boxing competition after six of its eight warriors that fought overseas lost in their respective fights.
Pinoy prospect Herlan Gomez’s luck in Thailand finally ran out after suffering an eighth round technical knockout loss to World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia bantamweight king Yuttapong Tongdee at the Spaceplus Bangkok RCA in Bangkok, Thailand.
The 23-year-old Gomez came into the fight with the momentum of back-to-back wins in Thailand against previously unbeaten prospects Parin Luangpon and Sarawut Jiamthong. He failed in his bid to become a regional champion.
Gomez suffered his first career defeat and dropped to 5-1 with two knockouts, while Tongdee remained undefeated with a record of 9-0 with five knockouts.
Meanwhile, Ronnie Campos, Lorenz Ladrada, Sugary Montales, Jufel Salina and Marvilo Aballe were all stopped in Japan.
Kenji Fujita (3-0, 2 KOs) knocked out Campos (9-5-3, 6 KOs) in four rounds; Mikito Nakano (7-0, 6 KOs) destroyed Ladrada (11-4-1, 3 KOs) in the opening round; Kota Kaneko (2-0, 2 KOs) scored a third round technical knockout of Montales (3-2, 2 KOs); Reito Saito (2-0, 2 KOs) stopped Salina (5-5-1, 4 KOs) in two rounds; and Subaru Murata (3-0, 3 KOs) demolished Aballe (8-3-2, 3 KOs) in two rounds.
The only bright spots for the Philippines were 17-year-old prospect AJ Paciones and Garen Diagan. Paciones (2-0, 1 KO) walked away with decision over Indonesian Sulis Barrera (5-11) in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, while Diagan (9-3, 5 KOs) upset two-time world title challenger Simphiwe Khonco (20-7, 7 KOs) in South Africa.