Romero halts Malaysian foe, keeps URCC title

Red Romero stopped Malaysian Jian Kai Chee early in the second round to keep his featherweight title in the “URCC 26: Domination” held over the weekend at Fontana Conventional Hall in Clark, Pampanga.

Romero shared the limelight with new bantamweight champion Jeson Estoro and Japanese Hideo Morikawa, who won the vacant pinweight title.

Bucking Chee’s fiery start, Romero seize control of the bout before landing a vicious kick to cap his comeback from a long layoff due to injuries.

The Malaysian fell flat on his back as Romero, who wrested the title from Ricardo Sapno in 2013, improved to 9-win, 5-loss in the event organized by Universal Reality Combat Championship headed by Alvin Aguilar.

Using his Muay Thai techniques, Estoro dethroned Andrew Benibe with a solid right.

Manila-based Morikawa, on the other hand, bested fan-favorite Alvin Ramirez.

Chinese Yang Xiao Nan beat local bet Dolores Meek in the lone women’s match.

Other results saw CJ de Tomas beat Carlo Laurel via decision, Chris Hoffman stop Jeremias Tan, Mark Palomar rout Sam Mison, Do Kyum Lee stop Drex Zamboanga, Isiah Ordiz trip Arvin Chan and Bernard Soriano down Ruel Rio.