CEBU – Michael Domingo of the ALA Boxing Gym retained his WBO Oriental bantamweight title with a hard-earned ninth round TKO of a comic, dirty fighting Thai challenger Ratanachai Sor Voparin in the main event of the historic “Daytime Boxing:Philippines vs. Thailand” card yesterday at the Cebu Coliseum.
Vorapin was a former world champion but the way he fought against Domingo, there wasn’t any shade of his once colorful career. He kept on clowning around, jostling Domingo to the point of pinning down his foe as if it was a UFC (Ultimate Fighting Challenge) match.
In the end, Domingo’s patience and fortitude paid off. After an uneventful eight rounds, the Libac, Sultan Kudarat fighter sneaked in a sledge-hammer right uppercut that sent Vorapin down at the seat of the pants.
Vorapin got up nimbly but at that point, blood was oozing profusely from his broken nose, prompting referee Teddy Alivio to have it checked by the ringside physician. After a shortwhile, Alivio waved off the bout upon the advise of Dr. Armindo Ceniza as the injury rendered the Thai visitor unfit to continue the fight. The official time was 2:58 of round nine.
“Maglisud ko og sud niya kay grabi kaayo kahugaw moduwa. Maayo na lang gani dili kusog ang iya mga suntok,” said the 29-year-old Domingo, who improved his record to 37-14-2 now garnished with 16KOs. Vorapin, who is probably headed to retirement, suffered his 11th defeat in 84 fights spiked with 49KOs.
As promised, ALA Promotions president Michael P. Aldeguer said Domingo will campaign next in the lucrative US boxing market.
“Definitely he will be campaining next in the US and hopefully he will get a crack at a world championship,” said Aldeguer.
Domingo will surely gain a lofty position at the world ratings with his masterful conquest of Vorapin, who is ranked No.3 by the WBO.
Aldeguer said their immediate plan is to book Domingo for a ring date in the US on December 5 or on the eve of the titanic collision between Filipino ring superstar Manny Pacquiao and the legendary Oscar de la Hoya.
In the other bouts, Joel de la Cruz fought to a split draw with former WBA king Somsak Kokietgym of Thailand, Julius Alcos won by majority decision over Nelson Llanos, while Marvin Sonsona knocked out John Naimez at 2:32 of the first round in the shortest match of the day.
In the lone women’s brawl of the slambang show presented by SGG Sports Promotions of Sammy Gello-ani, Kokiet Group of Thailand, City Government of Cebu, Viva Sports, Tanduay, Omega Boxing Gym, Sunriser Motorcycles of the Norkis Group and Cebu Grand Hotel, Thailand’s Usanakaron pulled off an impressive third round TKO of RP’s Geremie Tabastabas. – THE FREEMAN