Suico pulverizes foe in two rounds

CEBU CITY — In an awesome display of firepower, Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) superfeatherweight champion Randy Suico unleashed a five-punch barrage–capped by a vicious left cross to the jaw–to knock out teenaged Korean challenger Seung Won Baek at 0:45 of the second round in the jampacked Waterfront Hotel Ballroom here Friday night.

It was the 24-year-old Suico’s second defense of the OPBF crown he won via a sixth round stoppage of Sung Ho Yuh in April two years ago.

Baek, 19, never had a chance. Instead of engaging Suico from long range to avoid a toe-to-toe duel, he charged in and showed no respect for the Filipino’s punching power. He paid dearly for his lack of prudence.

Suico went to work early, launching a blistering attack to the head and body from the opening bell. Baek refused to back off. Like a kamikaze pilot with a death wish, he threw caution to the wind and stormed into harm’s way. Suico obliged, punishing Baek with bombs from all angles. At the end of the first round, Baek’s face was a landscape of red blotches.

The betting was 10-2 that Baek wouldn’t survive three rounds.

Baek courageously fought back in the second round. Suico couldn’t believe his good fortune Baek was a sitting duck. The former Korean amateur standout bore in, swinging wildly and showing little defense. The Filipino unleashed a jarring left, three left uppercuts and the coup de grace–a left cross to the jaw–to send Baek flat on his back, out cold.

Referee Bruce McTavish could’ve counted to 100 and Baek wouldn’t have gotten up. Ringside physician Dr. Nasser Cruz of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) rushed into the ring to administer emergency first aid on the unconscious Baek. A breathing apparatus attached to an oxygen tank was connected to his nose.

At ringside, over 50 Korean residents of about 1,000 living here were hushed by the sudden ending. They came to show support for Baek, holding up posters in Korean and chanting the fighter’s name. Baek was accompanied by an entourage of some 15 countrymen who flew in from Seoul to watch the bout.

Fans at the Waterfront Ballroom didn’t budge an inch as Baek lay prostrate on the canvas. They waited anxiously until Baek stood up, triggering an ovation in a gesture of appreciation for the Korean’s bravery.

The win earned for Suico the right to face World Boxing Council (WBC) No. 1 contender Mzone Fana in South Africa in April of May in a title eliminator. To seal the fight, Fana must beat Christian Paz of Argentina in Capetown on Feb. 13 in his own tuneup. Assuming Suico and Fana square off, the survivor will move on to challenge the WBC title fight between defending champion Jesus Chavez and Erik Morales on Feb. 28 in Las Vegas.

With the victory, Suico raised his record to 21-0, with 18 KOs. Baek’s mark dipped to 9-3.

In another fight on promoter Rex (Wakee) Salud’s card, Jimrex Jaca decked OPBF superbantamweight champion Pedrito Laurente in the fourth round and breezed to wrest the crown on a unanimous 12-round decision.

Korean scoring referee David Chung saw it 117-110, judge Salven Lagumbay 116-111 and judge Teddy Alivio 119-109, all for the 20-year-old Jaca who upped his record to 22-0, with nine KOs.

Jaca’s manager Salud said the newly-crowned OPBF titlist will stake his throne in Japan on May 30.

Also on the card, Elmer Gejon bounced back from a fluke knockdown in the third round to pound out a majority 12-round decision over showboating Jun Arlos for the vacant Philippine minimumweight diadem. Arlos, who had won seven of his last nine fights–all in Indonesia–was slapped a pair of one-point deductions by referee Baden Rebaya for shenanigans in the 10th and 11th rounds to cement his fate.

Judges Dioscoro Ramirez and Ben Necessario scored it for Gejon, 116-113 and 114-112. Judge Jonny Davis had it 112-all. Without Arlos’ deductions, the fight would’ve ended up a split draw.

What stole the thunder from the main events was unbeaten No. 1 Philippine junior lightweight Dexter Delada’s one-punch knockout of veteran Rex Marzan in a tenner. Marzan crumpled to the floor after he was struck by a left hook to the side of the body in the second round.

Delada, 21, is a rising star in Salud’s stable. Since turning pro last March, he has compiled a 9-0 record with seven KOs.