MikeLigalig.com

By Rey Anthony Chiu
PIA - Bohol

Three Boholano pugilists, two of them defending a title, threw in the fundamentals of boxing in a classic show of agility and stamina last week to earn for the country two world titles and another exclamation point in world boxing superiority.

Saturday last week in Connecticut, Talibon borne Nonito Donaire pounded Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado and dropped him to the canvas in a bid to retain the International Boxing Federation IBF flyweight division belt.

Last Sunday in Araneta Coliseum, Candijay-born Rey Boom-boom Bautista also blasted his tough Mexican opponent Antonio Meza for most rounds and drawing for him a unanimous decision to retain his World Boxing Organization Intercontinental superbantam weight belt.

Meanwhile, while fighting in a non title bout, Corella-born AJ Bazooka Banal, current World Boxing Organization Youth super-flyweight Champion rendered a show stealer in the Bautista-Meza spectacle when he scored a stunning ninth round technical knock-out over another Mexican Jovanny Soto.

The fights aired live over national televisions had most Boholanos glued to their sets to keep track of the boxing developments.

Donaire, who was on his first title defense lorded his ring superiority over Maldonado and showed why he was nicknamed Filipino Flash when his stiff left caught the challenger seconds into the eighth round.

Donaire improved his slate with 19 wins, 18 of which came in a row, boxing sources said.

On the other hand, Rey Bautista, who came to the ring without an idea of his opponent's arsenal survived a visibly tough fight and still got his reward for going the distance.

Fighting toe-to toe with the huge heart which had the home crowd on the edge of their seats, Bautista was lated quoted as saying, " I never knew exactly what his style was and he had already gained an advantage since he has seen me fight many times in the States."

Bautista who was humbled when he suffered a fist round knock-out loss against another Mexican Daniel Ponce de Leon admitted he was not rushing things up with Meza, stressing he had a lesson of patience and self control in his last debacle.

Bautista raised his record to 24 wins, 17 of them by knock-outs and 1 loss.

AJ Banal brought boxing to a higher level when he hit Soto with a barrage of crisp head and body shots. The Mexican however refused to refused to go down early.

Things changed in the eighth round however when Banal caught Soto with a right hook to the chin that sent the challenger to the canvas.

Banal now holds a 16 wins, 13 of them by knockouts, no losses and a draw.

As of presstime, Boholanos await the homecoming of the local boxing greats even as city mayor Dan Neri Lim is also expected to roll the red carpet for the local heroes.

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