The WBC superflyweight title fight between Gerry Penalosa and Mexican challenger Joel Luna Castro has been postponed from March 21 to April 4. Venue has been changed from the Araneta Coliseum to the Cuneta Astrodome. Promoter Zander Khan has backed out of staging the fight because of financial difficulties and Penalosa's manager Rex (Wakee) Salud has taken over the promotion. Salud recently said he turned down an offer from Dan Duva for Penalosa to defend the title against Zarate in Las Vegas instead. The offer was for a $l50,000 purse. It has become more and more difficult to raise funds to finance a major boxing promotion in the Philippines because of the country's economic problems.
Jan. 23. Malitbog, Bukidnon.
Promoter: Hynes Gualin.
Benjie Duran, l26, stopped Jun Carreon, l26 l/2, at l:45 of the second in a scheduled l0-rounder.
Jan. 24. Pelaez Sports Center, Cagayan de Oro City.
Promoter: Hynes Gualin.
Kongthawat Oratai-Gym of Thailand halted Filipino Rico Siodora at 2:l6 of the first round to wrest the World Boxing Federation (WBF) featherweight crown. In the undercard, Rolando Toyogon captured the vacant WBF junior flyweight title via a unanimous l2-round decision over Asawin Oratai-Gym of Thailand. The three judges were Thai Panya Prachakorn, Indonesian Machmood Junus, and Filipino priest Fr. Martin Dalida, Chaplain of the Manila Hospital. Other fights saw Jongjong Pacquing survive a ninth round knockdown to dispose of Tata Regatuna at l:57 of the llth in a Philippine junior welterweight title bout and Philippine bantamweight king Jess Maca demolished Korean Jin Hyong Yun at l:l4 of the third.
Jan. 24. Urdaneta, Pangasinan.
Promoter: Eduardo Palabay.
Edward Escriber, ll9, halted Rayul Cabato, ll8, at l:29 of the fifth round in a scheduled tenner. In other l0-rounders, Edwin Casano, l23 l/2, knocked out Joebar Damosmog, l2l l/2, at 2:37 of the second and Jun Balabat, l27, battled Jun Aguilan, l27, to a split draw.
Jan. 28. Elorde Sports Center, Sucat, Paranaque.
Promoter: Liza Elorde.
Philippine junior lightweight champion Lauro Wilton, l35, stopped Ali Albarracin, l3l, at 2:38 of the eighth in a scheduled non-title tenner. In the undercard, Zosimo Delgado, ll5, pounded out a unanimous l0-round decision over Rico Macaubos, ll5, and Roger de la Cruz, ll0 l/2, and Oro Amisola, ll0, battled to a technical draw in the third round.
Feb. 1. La Trinidad, Benguet.
Promoter: Raffy Panagan.
Raffy Aladi, l20, scored a unanimous l0-round verdict over Ricarte Cainiela, l2l l/2. In another tenner, Ricky Gayamo, ll9, outpointed Aljhun Tan, l20.
Feb. 7. Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.
Promoter: Enrique Digal, Jr.
Philippine bantamweight king Jess Maca, l2l, disposed of Flash Brito, l20, in the second round of a non-title bout. In the chief aperitifs, Max Barro, l20, eked out a split l0-round decision obver Mohammad Nazeb, l20, King D. Igal, Jr., l08, halted Wilmer Umadhay, l08, in the second round, and Robert Gadian, l06, scored a unanimous l0-round decision over Jack Comens, l06.
Feb. 8. Taytay, Rizal.
Promoter: Henry Cardinez.
Al Tarasona, ll2, scored a sixth round technical decision over Archie Villamor, ll2, in a scheduled tenner.
Feb. 9. Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila.
Promoter: Rod Nazario.
Baby Lorona, Jr., l26, hammered out a unanimous l0-round decision over veteran Ric Ramirez, l27. In other tenners, Nonoy Gonzales, l32, halted Ramon Molina, l34, at 2:5l of the sixth and unbeaten prospect Rodel Llanita, a former amateur standout, raised his record to 5-0, all by knockout, as he blasted Julie Tagalog into submission at 2:30 of the seventh. Llanita, ll6, fought his first l0-rounder. He struck Tagalog with a vicious left hook to the jaw then fired a right straight to score the only knockdown in the fight. Tagalog got up on rubbery legs, walked to his corner, and told referee Silvestre Abainza he was through for the night. Llanita, who turns 23 on March l, turned pro in October last year. He's 5-2 l/2, packs power in both fists, and has a 64-inch wingspan. Llanita was formerly trained by ex-flyweight contender Baby Lorona, Sr. and is now handled by Max Forrosuelo.
Feb. l4. Las Pinas, Metro Manila.
Promoter: Liza Elorde.
Melvin Magramo scored a unanimous l2-round decision over Thai Pornchai Sithpraphon to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) intercontinental flyweight crown. Referee was New Zealander Bruce McTavish. In the undercard, Oriental junior bantamweight king Raffy Montalban, ll8, scored a sixth round technical decision obver Bong Arlos, ll9, in a non-title bout and former WBF miniflyweight champion Ronnie Magramo, l08, defeated Rudy Fernandez, l06 l/2, via a fourth round technical decision.
Feb. l4. Davao City, Davao.
Promoter: Concepcion Partulan.
REnato Moreno, l25, pounded out a majority l0-round decision over Lito Wayan, l25. In another tenner, Michael Partulan, ll7, stopped Ating Mancao, ll8, in the second canto.
Feb. l8. Elorde Sports Center, Sucat, Paranaque.
Promoter: Gabriel Elorde, Jr.
Rokcy Palma, l05, barely edged Jun Arlos, l04, to capture the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) international strawweight crown via a majority l2-round decision. In companion tenners, Oriental junior featherweight titleholder Reynante Jamili, l25 l/2, kept busy as he cruised to a unanimous decision obver Brutos Gastador, l23 l/2, WBC No. 3 strawweight Carmelo Caceres, l09, stopped Marlon Gayundato, lll, at 2:34 of the ninth, and Lolito Laroa, ll0, beat Jojo Unabia, lll, by a split decision.