Indonesian cuts down wild-swinging Villanueva

SINGAPORE—Lorenzo Villanueva of the Philippines was dumped from his wild, wild chase of the International Boxing Organization featherweight crown after suffering a second-round stoppage inside the packed Marina Bay Sands Exposition Hall on Saturday night here.

The hitherto unbeaten Filipino downed sharp and seasoned Daud Cino Yordan of Indonesia early in the opening round, but easily lost wind in a kamikaze bid to pin down his foe.

He was decked twice and stopped at 1 minute, 6 seconds of the second round, looking more wasted than hurt.

Referee Bill Austin of Australia waived out the raw 26-year-old Filipino power puncher, who managed to get up on his feet after being floored a second time in the same round with a masterful left-right combination.

Villanueva blasted down Yordan inside one minute of the opening round with a crackling left cross, but lost steam with wild, awkward swings that all missed the target.

Before the shock defeat, the hitherto unbeaten pride of Midsayap, North Cotabato, had knocked out all but one of his 24 foes.

Villanueva, who had said they would have to kill him to prevent him from winning, practically went on a suicide mode as he repeatedly charged uncovered after scoring the first knockdown of the bout, a co-main event to the successful 16th defense by Indonesian legend Chris John of his WBA featherweight crown.

“Sayang, it’s a pity,” said manager Manny Piñol. “He got too excited and wasted everything in the first round.”

Piñol said he expects to see a wiser, sharper Villanueva when returns from the 90-day compulsory break.