Pacquiao stops Korean in fifth round

Manny Pacquiao delivered savage blows one after the other in a show rarely seen in an international bout as he forced North Korean challenger into submission to retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) International superbantamweight title last night at the Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo.

The Filipino southpaw needed only five rounds to stop Japanese born North Korean Tetsutora Senrima and retain his title in a fourth successful title defense before a roaring crowd and gain a crack at the world title held by Willie Jorrin of Sacramento, California.

Pacquiao, the No. 3 WBC contender, started like a house on fire, tagging his 31-year-old opponent with vicious left straights and powerful body punches to the delight of the huge crowd that included First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

Despite getting hit by Senrima’s deadly left a couple of times, Pacquiao was in full control of the fight, prompting Wan Soo Yuh, the scoring referee from Korea, to stop the scheduled 12-rounder in the 1:06 mark of the fifth round.

Although Senrima never hit the deck, he was a badly-beaten fighter at the end of the bout, his right eye half-shut and mouth bleeding as a result of Pacquiao’s heavy blows. In between rounds, Senrima even tried to taunt the crowd as if he was not getting hurt by raising both arms.

It was Pacquiao’s fourth defense of the title he won in 1999, improving his ring record to 31 victories, including 23 knockouts, against only two losses. Senrima, born in Kobe, Japan to North Korean parents, absorbed his fifth loss against 19 wins and three draws.

The fight, orginally scheduled last week but was postponed when Senrima failed to secure a Philippine visa, was not expected to last long since the Filipino fighter, the former WBC flyweight champion, had earlier vowed to knock out his opponent.

The 22-year-old Pacquiao worked so hard for the bout, training for the last two months in Davao City. He left his wife Jinky, who gave birth to their first child earlier this month, in their home province of Gen. Santos City to concentrate on his training.

It was the first bout for Pacquiao since he stopped Nedal Hussein, a Lebanese based in Australia, in 10 rounds last October, also at the Yñares Sports Complex. — With reports from Joey Villar