IT WAS a fruitful night for local boxing and it certainly felt good to be back watching a big-time event in a local albeit posh venue.
Here’s my assessment of the protagonists who all emerged victorious last Saturday night.
FLORANTE CONDES. This bull-strong southpaw made the most of the opportunity given to him after being beset by managerial woes. His sheepish remark of “karon nga wala na silang tanan” during the press-conference elicited the most laughter.
Condes prides himself in being an aggressive fighter, ergo the “Little Pacquiao” sobriquet, and that trait was in full display against the limited Soffyan Effendi.
To his credit, the visiting fighter moved well laterally and occasionally landed counterpunches to keep things honest, but Condes would not be denied the decision win.
My only complaint is that Condes is too much of a head-hunter. Maybe he was just too eager to score a stoppage win but when you have a mover in front of you who seems bent in taking the fight to the distance, a body attack is almost always indispensable.
GRADE: B, taking into account the layoff and the quality of opponent.
JIMREX JACA. His opponent had boxing pedigree behind him, but alas, little of
everything else.
Pipino Cuevas Jr. is an apple who probably fell off too far from the pugilistic tree, as he in no manner approximates the ring prowess of his famous father.
He appeared to have a decent punch, but sorely lacked technique. When he followed Jimrex Jaca around the ring with flat feet and a wide-open stance, I knew it was going to be a short fight.
With about 30 seconds left in the opening round, Jaca measured the Mexican’s exposed chin with a booming straight left and down he went. He attempted to rise, but his legs were more unstable than mine after a five-hour drinking binge with my kumpare Roger Lee.
Jaca continues to be an enigma. Unless he gets tested again by the top-tier fighters, we will never know if he can regain the form that once gave Juan Manuel Marquez fits in nine eventful rounds.
GRADE: B+ due to the impressive coup de grace.
MILAN MELINDO. Validating the nagging suspicion that he packs more punch in the 108 lb. division, Milan made short work of the hapless Jin Man Jeong.
The uppercut has always been “Milenyo’s” money punch and it was no different for this fight.
In the second round, a short, sneaky but accurate one landed smack on the Korean’s face and down he went screaming in agony.
The 22-year-old Milan is definitely ripe for the big one. As he has developed more power, his smooth boxing and terrific counter-punching have become potent weapons in his rise to the top.
GRADE: A due to an almost flawless performance.
REY BAUTISTA. “Boom-Boom” was matched up against the best fighter among the visitors as Alejandro Barrera showed he had true Barrera genomes coursing through his veins and gave as good as he got.
I thought he was actually winning the 4th round of a give-and-take affair when the fight was stopped due to a nasty cut on his right eye lid which was ruled to have been caused by a punch.
The replays showed that a clash of heads preceded the stoppage but from the angle provided by the camera, the clash appeared to have impacted on the left side of his face.
Maybe referee Tony Pesons was correct after all and a Bautista punch opened up the cut. In any case, “Boom- Boom” still exhibited his vulnerability to getting hit and his penchant for brawling.
GRADE: B minus due to anti-climactic ending.
LAST ROUND. It’s on my indefatigable kumpare Arthur Arellano who recently celebrated his birthday. Cheers!