Bobby Pacquiao Keeps Philippine Title
by Dennis Principe @ ringside
21.11 - PARAÑAQUE CITY, Philippines – Philippine Superfeatherweight champion Bobby Pacquiao successfully retained his title by decisioning former RP Featherweight king Baby Lorona, Jr. Wednesday night at the Casino Filipino Amphitheater in this city.
The 21-year old Pacquiao, younger brother of IBF world champion Manny, took control of the first two rounds by landing some crisp left and right hooks.
In the third round, the much taller Lorona started to land left and right combinations to Pacquiao’s face which resulted in a cut over the champion’s right eyebrow.
The succeeding rounds saw Pacquiao pressing the action and landing the more telling blows to gain the nod of the three judges who had the champion ahead with scores of 116-112, 117-111 and 116-112 after 12 rounds.
The win improved Pacquiao’s ledger to 17 wins, 8 losses with 11 KO’s.
In another title fight, WBC international flyweight champion Randy Mangubat kept his title by winning an ugly 9th round technical decision verdict over a game Bert Cano.
The underdog Cano bucked a slow start and was hitting some good uppercuts and right hooks when an accidental clashing of heads in the 9th round opened an ugly gash in Mangubat’s left eyelid. Cano was then slapped a one point deduction.
After examining Mangubat’s cut, ring physician Dr. Nasser Cruz ordered a halt to the bout in the said round to prevent any further damage.
Mangubat was later declared the winner after being ahead on all the judges’ scorecard, 86-85, 87-83 and 86-84.
In the same card, Cebu native Roselito “El Guapito” Campaña snatched the PABA interim flyweight title by carving out a 12-round decision victory over defending champion Archiel Villamor.
In a supporting bout, WBC in’tl minimumweight champion Ernesto Rubillar won by split decision over RP #3 lightflyweight contender Rey Orais after 8 rounds.
Rubillar’s younger brother, Juanito who holds the WBC int’l lightflyweight crown, scored an 8-round unanimous decision win versus RP #2 superflyweight Armand Dela Cruz.
