Boxing In Asia: Weekend Results

This biggest happenings this weekend in Asia took place last night in The Philippines, with a bill in Cebu City and one in Tagbilaran City.

At the Cebu Coliseum, there were four title fights, all for WBO regional belts, with three of the contests ending in stoppages, providing a fireworks display for the packed audience.

Hard-nosed former WBO Interim Lightweight Champion Michael Katsidis bounced back from competitive losses to two of the best in the world at 135 pounds, Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor, to grind out a big win over granite-jawed Argentine veteran Angel Hugo Ramirez over ten rounds to capture the vacant WBA Asia Pacific belt.

Katsidis aggressively went after Ramirez, flooring him in the second, third and fourth frames but the Aussie couldn’t put Ramirez away, losing a point in the second round for hitting the opponent after he was down.

Ramirez, 19-5-2 (8), survived the knockdowns and managed to go the distance on his feet, losing a wide points decision to Katsidis, who improves to 24-2 (20).

Super feather Anthony Marcial, 12-0 (11), of Zamboanga City, won the WBO Oriental crown by putting the first loss on the record of Bangkok’s Vacharakrit Senahan, 11-1 (7), stopping the Thai in the very first round.

Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales, 13-0 (8), retained his WBO Oriental Super Bantam belt for the third time by finishing off Thailand’s Pichitchok Singmanassak, 10-9 (4), in the fifth round.

Lanky flyweight puncher Marvin Sonsona, 11-0 (10), completed the Filipino sweep over Thailand by stopping Liempetch Sor Veeraphol, 12-5 (8), in the fourth to retain the WBO Asia Pacific title for the first time.

At the Island City Mall Car Park in Tagbilaran City, world rated super flyweight AJ “Bazooka” Banal, 18-1-1 (15), returned from a KO loss to Rafael Concepcion for the Interim WBA title in July to knock out Indonesian Champ Nouldy Manakane, 17-8-1 (8), in the fourth round.

Just 20 years of age, southpaw Banal of Cebu City is likely only a few more victories from challenging for a world title.

Local lightweight hero Czar Amonso, 19-3-1 (11),t was on the bill and the big-hearted lefty bounced back from his bloody stoppage loss to Michael Katsidis in Las Vegas this past July to drop Indonesian southpaw Zoe Fidal, 16-7-2 (7), twice before getting the KO win in the fifth stanza.

On Friday, super feather Roy “The Sniper” Mukhlis, 21-2-2 (16), of Semarang added the vacant WBC International title to his WBO Oriental and PABA belt collection by posting a unanimous points decision over local man Simson “The Terminator” Butar-Butar, 19-9-1 (14), over twelve hard fought rounds at TVRI Studios in Jakarta, Indonesia.

In Ang Thing, Thailand, featherweight Peesaddaeng Kiatsakthanee, 20-7 (5), won his fourth bout on the bounce by outpointing Victor Manon, 3-10-2 (2), over 11 rounds.

On Thursday in Thailand, Nongmuay Sithkruleor, 7-0 (0), caged the vacant WBC Female Light Flyweight title by outpointing Dan-Bi Kim, 5-1 (2), over ten rounds.

On the undercard, light flyweight Pigmy Muangchaiyaphum, 34-5-2 (17), won a six rounder over Rodel Quilaton, 12-9 (3).