Mancio destroys foe in five to keep Phl tilte

CEBU, Philippines - ALA Boxing Gym's Jerson Mancio retained his Philippine light flyweight title with a fifth round knockout of Bukidnon's Charlie Cabilla in the main event of ALA-Cobra Energy Drink's 'Tunay na Lakas' fight card the other night at the Mandaue City Plaza Square.

It was Mancio's first successful defense of the crown he snatched after beating Jason Canoy by unanimous decision last year at the San Remigio Sports Complex in the northern Cebu town of San Remigio.

The Agusan del Sur-native Mancio dropped Cabilla in the second round, but Cabilla survived the ordeal and fought toe-to-toe with Mancio in the succeeding rounds.

The deciding moment came in round five when Mancio sneaked in a picture-perfect hook to the body that sent Cabilla down on both knees. Cabilla failed to beat the count, forcing referee Tony Pesons to halt the bout at the 1:58 mark of the fifth round.

Mancio, thus, improved his record to 15-3 now spiked with 6KOs, while Cabilla fell to 12-10 (2KOs).

In the undercards, ALA prospect Welbeth Loberanis won by a 10-round majority decision over Canoy, Jimmy Paypa prevailed over Albert Villacampa by unanimous verdict, former amateur standout Zaldy Aroa stopped Gilbert Garciano in the second round, while Pedro Balaba and Sherwin Paro both came up with first round KO victories over Julie Agrabio and Ricky Nuñez, respectively. (FREEMAN)