Feb. 22
SEOUL--Mongolian LAKVA SIM, WBA #2 ranked junior light contender, 135,
defeated Korean SANGSUN PARK, 135, on a fine KO at 1:35 of the 6th round
in a scheduled 10. This victory raised Sim's mark to 6-1-1, 5 KOs. The
Mongolian prospect living in Korea previously had a mandatory crack at
the WBA throne against Yongsoo Choi only to lose a hairline split
verdict in Seungnam, Korea,on Feb. 1 of the previous year. He is
gunning for a rematch with Choi.
In a supporting 8, WBC #9 straw contender SANGCHUL LEE, 109 1/4, scored
a comeback win on points over HANJIN PARK, also 109 1/4. Lee had an
ambitious crack at the WBA junior fly throne against Pichit Chor Siriwat
in Thailand, losing a lopsided decision. Lee also suffered a 6th-round
TKO defeat by Japan's Shiro Yahiro in Tokyo last Sept. For Lee, it was
a comeback go in Korea. Yahiro will fight the WBC light fly kingpin
Saman Sorjaturong, Thailand, in Yokohama, Japan, on Mar. 8.
(02-22-98)
Feb. 25. Cupang, Muntinglupa City, Metro Manila.
Promoter: Rod Nazario.
Philippine No. 8 bantamweight Ric Evasco, 119, battaled No. 8 junior
bantamweight Joven Jorda, ll7, to a sixth round majority technical draw in
a scheduled tenner. A point was deducted from Jorda's scorecard for
opening a cut over Evasco's eye in the fifth round. Another butt, this
time caused by Evasco, prompted the stoppage at O:56 of the sixth. Under
Games and Amusement Board (GAB) rules, a fight that is stopped because of
an accidental headbutt after the third round is decided by the scorecards.
Judges Pascual Ingusan and Ramon Flores had it 47-all while judge Jose
Lansang saw it 49-47 for Jorda at the end of the fifth stanza. In a
companion tenner, Philippine No. 4 flyweight Celso Danggod, ll2, halted No.
2 junior bantamweight Abner Cordero in the third round. Danggod floored
Cordero with a right to the jaw in the second. Midway the third canto,
Danggod decked Cordero again with a right to the face. Cordero got up on
rubbery legs and referee Silvestre Abainza wisely called it a night. In
other fights, Flash Morillo, l07 l/2, pounded out a unanimous 8-round
decision over Ray Ganton, l07 l/2, Marlon Castaneda disposed of Gabriel
Calapiao at 2:00 of the first round as referee Nestor Olivetti ruled an
automatic knockout after Calapiao took three trips to the canvas, Jun
Balabat, l26, raised his record to 8-l-l in flattening Ramil Amil, l23, in
the second round, Zarlit Ropdrigo, l0l, made an impressive pro debut in
pulverizing Bert de la Cruz, 104, at l:43 of the second round, and Junie
Monquil, l23, and William Yurong, l22 l/2, fought to a technical draw.
In the night's most dramatic fight, Balabat, a protege of Gerry Garcia, landed a vicious right cross to the jaw and sent Amil nearly out of the ring. Amil was out cold and ringsiders thought he suffered a serious injury when his eyes remained open despite losing consciousness. Balabat fell to his knees when he saw Amil down on the canvas, turned away, prayed and wept. He was relieved when Amil, who has not won in 10 fights, regained his senses after about l0 minutes. Amil walked on shaky legs back to his dressing room. Balabat, 22, fights like former Philippine lightweight champion Roger Borreros whose license was not renewed by the GAB because of successive losses. Another headliner in the card was Castaneda, a Jun Sarreal protege. Castaneda took a four-year layoff from the ring and made a comeback last May. He has now won four in a row. The knockout over Calapiao was his first ever as he improved his record to 7-4-l. The duel between Morillo and Ganton was between teeners. Morillo is only l6 and Ganton, l8. Former Philippine flyweight champion Romy Navarrete (Rolando's brother) worked Ganton's corner. World Boxing Council (WBC) superflyweight titlist Gerry Penalosa witnessed the fights at ringside. Also present were two-time former world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa and Oriental flyweight king Manny Pacquiao who faces his biggest test in meeting Pan Asia Boxing Association junior bantamweight ruler Rey Llagas on April 4 at the Cuneta Astrodome.