July 22, 2000
LILO-AN, CEBU, PHILIPPINES-WBC #20 ranked brightest Asian prospect Randy Suico, 130, extended his unbeaten mark to 11-0, 9 KOs, as he patiently outjabbed Joel Gonzalez, 130, and swept all rounds before he scored a dramatic TKO victory at 2:55 of the 12th and final round to retain his Philippine junior light crown to his credit.
Suico, 20, took the leadoff with his fine display of left jabs and dominated every round, though Gonzalez, 10-8-3, 8 KOs, kept trotting with a tight guard on a bicycle. His improved left hand had the challengerfs face badly swollen.
The 5f10h lanky hard-puncher, formerly winner of the best Philippine amateur boxer award, effectively wore him down with good body shots and finally caught him with a vicious left hook and a solid straight right. With just 5 seconds remaining in the 12th, Gonzalez turned his back and prompted the referee to declare a halt.
All the officials tallied 110-101 in favor of the vastly talented Suico. The Filipino will come to Japan and fight his second bout there on his exclusive promoter Akihiko Hondafs card in November.
The 68-round show was a good card with a packed-house crowd of estimated 3,000 at the Kai Stadium.
Dominador Cepeda, the chairman of the GAB (Games and Amusements Board, the commission of all professional sports there), its commissioner of boxing Ashley Arayata and its chief of boxing division Emmanuel Flores attended the national mandatory title bout of the future world champ.
Promoter: Joe Koizumi Sports Promotions.
(7-22-00)