James Maquilan posts KO win to retain WBC Asia Continental belt

James Maquilan floors Jason Facularin in their bantamweight bout in the main event of Blow-by-Blow at Cuneta Astrodome.–MP Promotions/Wendell Alinea

MANILA, Philippines–James Noli Maquilan bucked off a slow start to score an electrifying 11th-round knockout of the gutsy Jason Facularin and retain his World Boxing Council Asia Continental bantamweight belt late Saturday night during Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow-By-Blow show at Cuneta Astrodome.

Referee Jerold Tomeldan called a halt to the scheduled 12-rounder at the 1:03 mark upon seeing one of Facularin’s cornermen go up the ring to plead that the fight be stopped immediately as the small but boisterous crowd erupted in cheers.

Representing the Penalosa Boxing Gym of Merville, Paranaque, Maquilan floored Facularin in the fifth with a classic jab-straight combo and late in the 10th round with a perfectly timed left hook.

READ: Blow-by-Blow Maquilan, Facularin fight for WBC Asia Continental title

The win boosted Maquilan’s card to 10-1 with seven knockouts while the loss dropped Facularin’s mark to 8-2 with eight knockouts.

Facularin started strong as he forced Maquilan to the ropes in the first two frames with a furious two-fisted head and body assault.

But Maquilan, known to be a slow starter, found a way to counter his foe’s aggressiveness en route to the smashing win.

READ: Blow-by-Blow: Maquilan stops Alipio for PBF bantamweight belt

Eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao could not help but rave about the fantastic showing of Maquilan and those who fought in the undercard.

“Blow-By-Blow is fully committed to help develop Filipino fighters and I will be leading the way to enable them to fulfill their dreams,” said Pacquiao.