Randy Petalcorin targets world title after winning in GenSan

MANILA, Philippines – Top-rated contender Randy Petalcorin earned a unanimous decision victory over compatriot Arnold Garde at Robinson’s Mall Atrium in General Santos City, Philippines on Sunday, December 4 to push his record to 25-2-1 (18 knockouts) and win the vacant IBF Pan Pacific light flyweight title.

Petalcorin, who is rated number two at 108 pounds by The Ring magazine, topped Garde (7-4-2, 3 KOs) by the scores of 97-91, 98-90 and 100-88 in the battle of Davao City natives.

The fight was Petalcorin’s second straight win following his highly-controversial loss to Omari Kimweri earlier this year in Australia, when Petalcorin was seen to have knocked Kimweri down 4 times only to have the calls ignored by the referee. Petalcorin scored a knockdown in round 6 but was content to go the distance, says Petalcorin’s manager Jim Claude Manangquil, whose company Sanman Promotions organized the event.

“Arnold Garde came in good shape and was tough but Randy won every round,” said Manangquil, who co-manages Petalcorin with Australian Peter Maniatis. “Randy looked good, could have stopped him but he said he wanted rounds.”

Manangquil says a decision on Petalcorin’s next move will be made next month but that he’s likely to fight in February or March in GenSan or in Australia.

Manangquil tells Rappler that Petalcorin will target the IBF junior flyweight title held by Japan’s Akira Yaegashi, who is expected to face Filipino boxer and interim titleholder Milan Melindo next.

“l would like to try to bring the IBF world title fight to Australia if possible and Akira Yaegashi is available but if we have to travel to Japan to fight Yaegashi so be it,” said Maniatis.

In the co-main event, Eden Sonsona (35-6-2, 12 KOs) shook off ring rust to win an 8-round majority decision over Jaime Barcelona (39-61-1, 10 KOs). Sonsona, fighting for the first time in his hometown, had been inactive since knocking out 22-0 Mexican Adrian Estrella in May of 2015 and barely eeked out the decision on two cards, with the scores being 77-75, 77-74 and 76-76. – Rappler.com