Pinoy Pride 30 gets going

Jeson Umbal (right) decked Eric Panza twice during their bantamweight bout in the undercard of Pinoy Pride XXX on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum. Mark Giongco/INQUIRER.net

Filipinos Ralph Lulu and Jeson Umbal edged their respective opponents to get “Pinoy Pride XXX: D-Day” going on Saturday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Lulu won by majority decision over compatriot Gerry Patenio in the curtain raiser, a four-rounder in the featherweight division, while Umbal scored a unanimous decision victory over another Filipino Eric Panza in the second bout of the night.

Umbal dropped Panza twice—first in the opening round and the other in the third—both off his left hand.

Umbal, who upped his record to 8-3, with 6 knockouts, rocked Panza in the fifth round during an exchange.

Filipino bets Nonito Donaire and Donnie Nietes lead the card’s featured bouts as they face separate opponents.

Donaire will be making his ring return after a sixth-round stoppage loss to Jamaican Nicholas Walters last year against Brazil’s William Prado while Nietes hopes to continue his reign as WBO light flyweight champion against Gilberto Parra in the main event. RC