Concepcion-Sonsona ends in technical draw; Peñalosa brothers remain unbeaten

MANILA, Philippines – Bernabe Concepcion and Eden Sonsona were prepared to showcase an exceptional ten-round war on Saturday night, July 26 at Mandaluyong City Gymnasium.

But what fans in attendance had hoped for and what would end up as the conclusion were two different things.

The 26-year-old Concepcion suffered a nasty cut above his right eye following a clash of heads with the one-year younger Sonsona, forcing the referee to wave it off at 2:26 of the third round.

A technical draw was soon declared after the in-ring official deemed that Concepcion was incapable of continuing the bout due to the gory gash.

Both men were clearly disappointed with the ruling as Concepcion and Sonsona were engaged in a back-and-forth battled that had the crowd into frenzy.

Sonsona was hurling wild hooks to the body and head, while Concepcion returned the favor with a left jab-right straight connection that dazed his fellow Pinoy boxer.

The two-time world title challenger was determined to go for the kill in the third round, smacking a stiff double jab before pouncing a curling right hand to Sonsona’s face.

However, Sonsona managed to trap his opponent in the corner and pounded with series of body shots that accidentally hit the groin of Concepcion.

As the tussle resumed, Concepcion shrugged off the pain and continued on by heaving an overhand right that had Sonsona reeling inside the squared-circle.

By the time Concepcion closed the distance, Sonsona moved in as well that caused the collision of heads.

Concepcion hadn’t figured in a draw since December 2005 when he faced Alex Escaner, while Sonsona tastes the second straight technical draw.“Honestly, nobody would like to stop the fight. We’re showing a great fight, and I already had the momentum in the third round. It’s disappointing, but we have to move on,” Concepcion tells Rappler.

Peñalosa brothers knock out foes

Cebu City’s Dodie Boy Peñalosa Jr. (13-0, 12 KOs) made quick work of Dicky Amtiran (3-9), beating the Indonesian boxer by third-round knockout in their ten-round super bantamweight showdown. The time of knockout was 1:14.

“Dugong Kampeon” was already seeking the stoppage in the first round, where he clobbered Amtiran with volumes of rapid shots and wobbled his opponent for a knockdown.

Peñalosa wrote the final sentence in round three as he delivered a right hook to the body, prompting a helpless Amtiran to touch the mat once more.

The third-generation pugilist Peñalosa extends his unbeaten mark to 13 fights, with 12 victories coming by way of knockout.

On the other hand, Dodie Boy Jr.’s brother Dave Peñalosa (9-0, 6 KOs) weathered a possible upset by Danilo Gabisay (5-3, 3 KOs), stopping his Baguio City based opponent in the fifth round with a body shot.

Gabisay surprised Peñalosa in the third round with a straight right hand that immediately dropped him to the canvas.

The youngest son of former IBF junior flyweight and flyweight champion Dodie Boy Sr. shrugged off Gabisay’s campaign to score a shocking win over him, slumping his adversary twice in the fourth period before blasting a fight-ending body blow in round five.

Former WBC junior bantamweight and WBO bantamweight champ Gerry Peñalosa, the promoter and uncle of Dodie Boy Jr. and Dave, asserted that it is time for his nephews to take on top-caliber boxers if they desire to attain more mileage.

“It’s high time for them to face tough opponents to test their skills. If they want to be big names in boxing, they have to face and beat the best,” the former two-division world champion said in Filipino.

Tiger City’s Aducal defeats Tampipi

Jimmy Aducal of Tiger City Boxing Gym trounced Danny Tampipi via unanimous decision with the scores of 78-73, 79-72 and 78-73.

After avoiding a rough exchange and hesitating to throw his signature left in the first round, the 23-year-old southpaw found his groove in the second and third cantos, uncorking combinations on Tampipi’s body.

However, Tampipi drew a trick from under his sleeve in the fourth round as he utilized his counter jab to fend off his surging foe, who continued to target his opponent’s abdomen.

The 5-foot-5 slugger from Catarman, Northern Samar shifted the momentum back to his side in the fifth round as he moved his body to find the precise position to clobber a left hand that put a mouse on Tampipi’s right eye.

Aducal started to dance around Tampipi in the seventh period, when he unleashed a shattering right hook to send his brawny counterpart down to the floor.

Tampipi appeared to lose his steam and was caught backpedalling to stay away from a possible knockdown by Aducal, who was producing eye-catching punches until the final bell.

Aducal was originally penciled to square off with Petch Sor Chitpattana for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth Silver bantamweight championship, but a political crisis in Thailand scrapped the title tilt.

As he improves his record to 8-3-2 with six knockouts, a possible regional title shot awaits Aducal in mainland China.

Aducal’s teammate Robin Dingcong (0-3-1) failed to walk away with the victory as he succumbed to a first-round technical knockout against Julius Bala of Alvarez Boxing Stable.

In other matches, Jason Manigos Canoy (20-4-2, 14 KOs) walloped highly-touted boxer Giovani Escaner (11-3, 7 KOs) via technical knockout as the latter was unable to carry on after eight rounds.

Former WBC Youth Silver bantamweight titlist Richard Pumicpic (15-6-2, 4 KOs) outlasted Rex Olisa (10-25-1, 8 KOs) in a tactical 124-pound catchweight confrontation to claim the undivided vote from the ringside judges.

Light flyweight prospect Philip Luis Cuerdo dropped Juanito Hundante three times in the opening salvo to compel the referee to halt the action at the 1:18 mark.

Niero Saldon edged out Michael Bravo via unanimous decision, while Jiffy Castañeda exhausted Regan Bula for a third-round stoppage.

Dodie Peñalosa Sr.’s protégé John Kennan Villaflor routed Edward Camion of MP Boxing Gym via split decision.

Professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Jenel Lausa made a successful boxing debut with a four-round drubbing of Alfred Campilan. – Rappler.com