Boholano fighters nearly sweep foes in Tagbilaran card

The Boholano boxers nearly completed a sweep in the highly successful "Bakbakan sa Tagbilaran" card witnessed by an estimated crowd of 25,000 that turned the Carlos P. Garcia Sports Complex in Tagbilaran City into a sea of red the other night.

Except for the Loay, Bohol-native John Carlos who was stopped by Cagayan de Oro City's Chris Alag with 58 seconds left in the fourth round, Bohol's homegrown talents pulled off impressive victories over their respective foes to the delight of their hometown fanatics.

Although it was ALA teenage sensation Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista and Czar Amonsot who head the cast of victors in the blockbuster show, RP No.2 Along Dinoy stole part of the limelight by knocking out Butuan City's Jun Pader at 1:06 of the second round.

Arnel Tadena, who like Bautista and Dinoy hails from the municipality Candijay, some 80-kilomter away from Tagbilaran, pounded out a unanimous decision victory over CDO's Roland Gepoleo.

Alex John Banal of Ubay and Glen Masicampo and Tiny Tyson of Tagbilaran also tamed separate foes by unanimous verdict. Banal subdued CDO's Ronnie Saguing, Masicampo beat fellow Boholano Villy Bullecer, while Tyson triumphed over Butuan's Junmar Onggo.

In the main event of the historic slugfest tha featured twin World Boxing Organization Asia-Pacific title bouts, the 19-year-old Bautista dismantled the overmatched Tanzanian "Thunder" Obote Ameme at 1:57 of the second round to retain his WBO AsPac bantamweight title.

A 10-minute fireworks display dazzled spectators after Bautista kept for the second time the WBO regional belt he wrested by flooring Thai Saensak Singmanassak in the second round on August 17, 2004 at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

Amonsot, on the other hand, survived a near disaster in the fifth round to dethrone Victor Mausol of Indonesia via knockout at 1:17 of the eighth round to emerge as the new WBO AsPac super featherweight champion.

Tagbilaran City Mayor Dan Neri Lim, the man behind the overwhelming success of the historic promotion held in partnership with the provincial government of Bohol led by governor Erico Aumentado and the Sandugo Foundation, said they spent almost P4 million for the start-studded event.

Former Platter Bobby Soul opened the professional bouts with a heart-warming rendition of "My Prayer," one of their all-time hits. 2005 Star In A Million grand champion Jerome Sala sang the Philippine national anthem, while the multi-awarded Loboc Children's Choir performed the Bohol hymn.