Paypa falters in OPBF title bid

CEBU, Philippines – Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Paypa's bid for the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super bantamweight belt ended in a crushing first round knockout defeat to Japanese champion Shingo Wake the other night at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

ALA trainer Michael Domingo said the 21-year-old Paypa was the aggressor from the start, even landing solid hooks to the taller Japanese.

Paypa, however, got a bit careless and was at the receiving end of Wake's powerful uppercut that sent the ALA fighter sprawling on the canvas for good at the two-minute mark of the opening round.

The 27-year-old Wake, thus, improved his record to 18-4 now spiked with 11KOs, while Paypa dropped to 16-3 (6KOs). (FREEMAN)