Singyu Stops Banal To Claim Vacant Title

By Chito Yu Katangkatang at ringside: Pungluang Sor Singyu proved his Filipino Assassin fame is no fluke as he claimed the vacant WBO Bantamweight Crown by stopping AJ Bazooka Banal in the ninth round on Friday.

The bulldozing Thaibased boxer walked through the shots of Banal negating the Cebuano slugger’s power. Singyu showed a granite chin and rocked Banal with power combinations of hooks, haymakers and uppercuts.

Banal countered well and connected with some effective body shots but the Thai warrior was just too tough.

In the fateful ninth round, Banal was almost thrown out of the ropes but referee Tony Weeks ruled it a slip. Sensing blood, Pungluang went for the kill going berserk and hitting Banal with combinations to the head and body. Banal fought back in a wild exchange but got the greater damage and hitting the canvass.

Banal stood up within the count but walked groggily toward the neutral corner. Sensing enough punishment, referee Tony Weeks called a halt to the bout at 1:45 of the ninth round.

In the supporting bout, Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista claimed the WBO International Featherweight Belt through a split decision win over Mexican Daniel Ruiz. On  the undercard, Jason Pagara successfully defended his WBO International light Welterweight Crown by knocking out Miguel Antoine in the very first round. Michael Domingo was also victorious with a third round knockout win over Mudde Ntambe Rabison of Uganda.

All in all, Team Philippines almost swept all the night’s matches except for the main event where AJ Banal lost in a heartbreaking way to the visiting Thai.

October 20, 2012