Vargas, Ukrainian keep world titles; Filipino scores in undercard

MACAU—Jessie Vargas counterpunched his way to a unanimous decision victory over Antonio DeMarco to retain his World Boxing Association super lightweight title in the first of four televised bouts of Clash in Cotai II at The Venetian Macao Sunday.

While Vargas was tested, with all three judges scoring it 116-112, Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko cruised past Thai Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo to keep the World Boxing Organization featherweight crown. All three judges scored the lopsided bout at 120-107.

Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur champion, toyed with the Thai to post his third win in only four pro fights. He, however, has had 397 amateur fights, losing only once. The outclassed Thai dropped to 52-2 with 33 knockouts.

The unbeaten Vargas, under the tutelage of boxing great Roy Jones Jr., notched his 26th straight win with nine knockouts while DeMarco, who is being trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach, dropped to 31-4-1 with 23 knockouts

The 26-year-old Lomachenko downed the Thai with a left uppercut in the fourth round and landed at will from thereon.

Vargas inflicted a cut on DeMarco in the sixth while DeMarco returned the favor in the ninth.

DeMarco caught Vargas napping in the seventh round, landing a jarring 1-2 combination.

Cavite City’s Jerwin Ancajas showed a new-found power when he knocked out Tanzania’s Fadhili Majiha in the third round of their bantamweight tussle.

The 22-year-old Ancajas caught Majiha with a solid left cross to the jaw 1:48 into the round, sending the Tanzanian down for the full count.

Ancajas, now with MP Promotions and under the tutelage of Nonoy Neri, Pacquiao’s assistant trainer who doubles as his personal cook during training camp and fight week, raised his record to 22-1-1 with 14 KOs. Majiha fell to15-6-4.

Using his longer reach, the 5-foot-6 Ancajas also took the first two rounds, staggering Majiha midway of the second.

Chinese hero Zou Shiming dominated Thai Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym to win the WBO International flyweight title by scores of 119-106 twice, and 120-103.

Zou, also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur champion, downed the Thai thrice in the third round and went on to tally his sixth straight win in as many fights.