Baluarte stops Thai in first, captures WBO Aspac crown
By Salven Lagumbay
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:14:00 04/28/2008
CAGAYAN DE ORO—Local bet Eusebio Baluarte Jr. seized the WBO Asia Pacific Youth junior welterweight title with an impressive first-round annihilation of Thailand’s Yai Sithsaithong Saturday night.
Baluarte, a native of Don Carlos, Bukidnon, unleashed a big right overhand that sent Sithsaithong on his knees. Baluarte pressed the attack and scored another knockdown, prompting referee Delbert Peligrino to stop the fight one minute, 30 seconds into the first round.
“We are very happy to have this new champion in our midst,” said promoter Leonil Lazarito. “Baluarte will go far, and who knows he might be fighting in Las Vegas soon.”
The win in the main event of the “Rumble in Mis. Or,” presented by Gov. Oscar Moreno and Leolet Sports Promotion, raised Baluarte’s record to 13 victories (10 KOs) against a loss. Sathsaithong took his seventh loss in 20 fights.
World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific chair Leon Panoncillo, who supervised the fight, said Baluarte has the potential to go places.
In the co-feature, Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Eric Barcelona retained his title with a technical knockout win over Phil Angcamor at the end of the fifth round.
In a battle of veterans, Jaime Barcelona halted Bohol’s Melvin Ayudtud in the fifth of their scheduled 10-round featherweight clash.
Bukidnon’s William Jorge stopped Joy Trujillo of Saranggani in the second round while Mark Anthony Geraldo of Kibawe, Bukidnon, knocked out Bryan Diano in the first.
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