Boom Boom leads RP sweep of Cebu fight card

IN AN impressive display of boxing skill and punching power, the Philippines scored a 4-0 sweep over The World in a blockbuster fight card at a jam-packed Pacific Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City Saturday.   The card presented by ALA Promotions in cooperation with ABS-CBN had its moment of disappointment when the main event between Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista and Mexican warrior Alejandro “Zorrito” Barrera was stopped at 1:14 of the 4th round by referee Tony Pesons on instructions of the ring physician after Barrera suffered a cut on his right eyebrow.   The fans were unhappy as they were warming up to a ring war with both Bautista and Barrera throwing big shots to the body and the head.   Bautista’s left hand showed no signs of any ill-effects from surgery which forced him into a nine-month layoff as he repeatedly jolted the head of Barrera with snappy lefts and clubbed him with  overhand rights.   Barrera gamely traded punches but on two occasions appeared to spit out his mouthpiece to get a breather after being hurt by Bautista, who improved his record to 29-2-0 with 22 knockouts.   Barrera, a cousin of Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera told the Inquirer that Bautista was a good fighter but claimed he was never hurt during some furious exchanges.   Meanwhile, southpaw Jimrex Jaca set heralded Pipino Cuevas Jr. up with a right and then nailed him with a devastating left straight that dropped the Mexican for the full count at 2:22 of the opening round.   World-rated Milan Melindo, fighting as a flyweight, knocked Korean champion Jin Man Jeon at the 43-second mark of the second round.   Former WBO minimumweight champion Florante “Little Pacquiao” Condes  dropped durable Pan Asia Boxing Association champion Sofyan Effendi in the sixth round on the way to a unanimous decision victory.   Condes won by a shutout 80-71 on the scorecards of all three judges and proved he was ready to fulfill his dream of regaining the world title after three or four more fights being lined up for him by ALA Promotions.