Boxing: Sonny Boy Jaro keeps career alive with win over Pantilgan

MANILA, Philippines – Sonny Boy Jaro, a former WBC flyweight champion, kept his career alive with a unanimous decision win over Marjun Pantilgan Wednesday, November 16 at Makati Cinema Square in Makati City, Philippines.

The scores were 99-92, 96-94 and 97-93, all for the Silay City, Iloilo native Jaro, who picks up the WBC International Super Flyweight title with the win. There were no knockdowns though Jaro (43-13-5, 30 knockouts) rocked Pantilgan (11-4, 10 KOs) several times as his heavy left jab and body punches pounded away at his opponent’s high guard.

Pantilgan, who is 12 years younger than Jaro at age 22, had his best round of the fight in the fifth, landing a few strong rights against the lowered gloves of Jaro. Jaro regained control in the sixth and showed surprising bounce in his legs and defense despite his age and inactivity.

Sonny Boy Jaro vs Marjun Pantilgan round 10 action #boxing #rstream pic.twitter.com/Y5KZ7vvRZ5

— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) November 16, 2016

Jaro, who shocked the boxing world in 2012 by ending the long reign of Pongsaklek Wonjongkam to win the flyweight championship, said he hoped returning from a 13-month will be enough to reinsert him into the rankings at 115 pounds.

The show was promoted by Anson Tiu Co’s Shape-up Promotions.

In the co-featured bout, junior flyweight Edward Heno (9-0-4, 2 knockouts) of Pasay City dropped tricky journeyman Roque Lauro (13-20-5, 3 KOs)) on a southpaw right hook and finished him later in round 6 at the 2:37 mark.

The night’s most entertaining bout saw Philippine-based Japanese bantamweight Kyota Otsaka (5-2-2, 3 KOs) battling Glenn Calacar to a majority draw by the scores of 57-57 on two cards and 58-56 on the third.

Other results

Featherweight Arnel Baconaje (6-2, 6 KOs) needed just one shot to put away Jeson Berwela (4-23, 2 KOs) at 2:59 of round one. Baconaje of San Rafael Iloilo landed a single left hook which sent his opponent crashing down. Berwela attempted a WWE-style kip-up to beat the count at 8 but it turns out he isn’t Shawn Michaels.

Super bantamweight Cris Falcon Ocana (7-1-1, 5 KOs) dropped Julius Bala (4-5, 2 KOs) with a right hand late in the fifth round and finished him off with a flurry at the 2:12 mark. Ocana, 18, of Pasay City showed a consistent body attack early before moving his attack upstairs.

Lightweight Glen Bismanos (2-1, 2 KOs) stopped Romano Villanueva at 1:23 of the first round. Bismanos had no chance to show what kind of fighter he was as Villanueva turned his back shortly after the first exchange and complained of an eye injury.

Rivas gets title shot

Filipina boxer Carleans Rivas (5-3-3) tells Rappler she will face Japanese fighter Chaoz Minowa (2-0) for the vacant OPBF flyweight title on December 13 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. (READ: Carleans Rivas: Beauty outside, beast inside)

Rivas, 27, is in training in her native Rizal province but was in attendance for Wednesday’s fight card. Rivas last fought in February, avenging a 2014 loss to Lady Love Sampiton by unanimous decision. 

Anson Tiu Co said he’s looking to have his fighter Richard Pumicpic (18-8-2, 6 KOs) of Sindangan, Zamboanga del Norte return to action in January in the Philippines. Pumicpic, 26, fought last month in Mexico, nearly stopping Cesar Juarez in a 10-round points loss that raised his stock. – Rappler.com