ALA's Gasca captures OPBF crown in Japan

CEBU, Philippines - Another ALA Boxing Gym fighter has earned his mark this year as super bantamweight Roli Gasca captured the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title with a majority twelve round decision against Japanese Hiromasa Ohashi at the Aioi Hall in Kariya, Aichi, Japan. 

The pride of Barili, Cebu, Gasca who is known not for his power punching but for his fluid style of out boxing opponents, led in most of the early rounds of the fight.

The Japanese recovered in the middle rounds by forcing Gasca to turn defensive using solid body shots, but the 22-year-old Cebuano immediately came back and continued to land crisps jab and hooks to the head and body of Ohashi.

Gasca then punctuated his win by dominating the battered Japanese champion the whole of the 12th round frustrating him and the Japanese crowd in attendance. 

The three referees scored the bout 116-112, 116-112 and 115-115 all in favor to Gasca.

With the win Gasca who was coming off a 3rd round TKO win last April in the Pinoy Pride fight card in Bacolod City against Thailand 's Ngaotawan Sithsaithong, improved his record to 17 wins, three by knockouts with one defeat. (FREEMAN)