PH boxer Moralde overcomes early knockdown, deals Ugandan foe 1st loss

Filipino John Moralde shook off an early knockdown to beat Ismail Muwendo of Uganda Sunday (Manila time) at Save Mart Center in Fresno, California, USA.

Moralde recovered after getting dropped in the first round and returned the favor to Muwendo, who tasted the canvas in the fifth round.

The 24-year-old Moralde earned a hard-fought unanimous decision victory, 76-74, 76-74, 77-73, to improve his record to 20-1, with 10 knockouts after coming off a loss to American Toka Kahn Clary five months ago in Rhode Island.

Muwendo, 29, was dealt with his first setback after starting his professional career with 19 wins, 12 coming by knockout.

The eight-rounder fought at a catchweight of 132 pounds was part of the undercard of the Jerwin Ancajas-Jonas Sultan main event  that featured two Filipinos in a world title fight for the first time in 93 years.

Ancajas dominated Sultan en route to a unanimous decision win, 119-109, 119-109, 117-111.