Batawang pummels Gonzales

Reigning WBA Pan-African light flyweight champion Bert Batawang of SGG Stable patiently worked his way to a dominating fifth round TKO win over former RP champion Eugene Gonzales of Manila's L & M Stable in the main event of the other night's "Power Punch" card at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

Batawang, IBF ranked No.5, WBO No.6, and WBA No.9 jr. flyweight contender, fought tentatively in the first two rounds, but started to hit his targets in the third round where he decked Gonzales with a barrage of telling blows.

Gonzales, presently RP No.6 flyweight contender, got up nimbly only to be at the receiving end of Batawang's unforgiving punches from that point on.

Seeing Gonzales being beaten badly and could no longer parry Batawang's relentless attacks, referee Teddy Alivio wisely intervened and waved off the bout at the 2:23 mark of the fifth round.

"I immediately stopped the fight because he (Gonzales) was already helpless," said Alivio.

"Naglisud gyud ko sa pagsugod, pero sa ako tan-aw kaya ra kaayo nako siya," said the 33-year-old Batawang after improving his win-loss-draw record to 34-11-3 now embellished with 27 knockouts.

In the exciting undercards of the slambang show presented by Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani's SGG Sports Promotions International and graced by sexy stars Briana Blanca and Katrina Gonzales of the Viva Hot Babes, ALA ringsters Rey Caitom and Alex John Banal were similarly impressive in demolishing their respective foes from Butuan City.

Caitom coasted to his third straight victory in as many fights after defeating Frederick Salde by unanimous decision, while Banal debuted in the pro ranks with flying colors, needing only two minutes and 21 seconds to flatten Julius Cabusas on the canvass for good.

It was not all jubilation though for the Cebuano pugs as AEV Stable's Robert Allanic and Isidro Balabat suffered stunning setbacks.

Allanic was stopped at the 1:20 mark of the third round by John Ray Verano of Cotabato's Gemmel Contayoso Stable, while Balabat was forced into retirement before the start of the seventh round by the Manila-based Jun Eraham.

Along Denoy became AEV Stable's saving grace after he pounded out a unanimous decision victory over the ever durable Nino Suelo of Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.