August 14, 2007 | 12:00am
Daniel Ponce de Leon knocked out unbeaten Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista in the first round to retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) 122-pound super bantamweight crown. De Leon’s victory was Mexico’s lone win in a six-fight World Cup of Boxing against the Philippines at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California last Saturday (Sunday in Manila). The southpaw De Leon of Chihuahua, dropped the 21-year-old Filipino from Bohol twice with the last knockdown occurring two and half minutes after the opening bell.
De Leon had beaten Bautista’s compatriot Gerry Peñalosa in a controversial 12-round decision last March to retain his title. De Leon’s record improved to 32-1 (29 KOs) after his stunning victory over Bautista, now 23-1. De Leon’s victory over Boom Boom extended his winning streak to eight since February 2005 when the former lost by unanimous decision to current World Boxing Association (WBA) 122-pound titlist Celestino Caballero.
Bautista had his work cut out for him when he entered the ring. De Leon is regarded as one hardest punchers of boxing pound for pound, according to the website MaxBoxing.com while Bautista had behind him spectacular knockout victories against tough opponents.
The popular website had the following description for the quick ending: “At the sound of the opening bell, De Leon attacked Bautista like a madman on mission, buckling the baby-faced puncher’s knees with the first chopping left hand he landed. De Leon kept hammering the game but outgunned youth with left-hand haymakers until he separated the bewildered and overwhelmed young man from his senses and referee Jon Schorle stepped in and halted the massacre.”
In a telephone conversation with The STAR shortly after the bout, Bautista’s manager and benefactor, popular sports philanthropist Tony Aldeguer said he “assumed full responsibility” for the debacle. Aldeguer, known for his quiet and gentlemanly ways said, “I’m sure some people will say that Boom Boom was overmatched but had he won, they would have called his victory spectacular, etc. Whatever it is, we will help Bautista start all over again, if he wishes.”
Peñalosa, who lost his 115-pound crown eight years ago, scored the Philippines’ fifth win in the co-main event of the World Cup and claim the WBO 118-pound bantamweight title by stopping the favored defending champion Jhonny Gonzalez. The veteran Peñalosa, now 35 years old, landed a powerful left to Gonzalez’s liver who was favored to retain his title although Peñalosa was clearly the aggressor most of the fight.
It took a few seconds before Gonzalez felt the impact of the punch which came after Peñalosa deftly ducked Gonzalez’s left-right combination. The 25 year old champion had moved backward shortly after Peñalosa delivered his haymaker and then slumped to the canvas, unable to beat referee Pat Russell’s count. According to Fox Sports, Gonzalez who led on two judges’ scorecards and all punch stats when he went down, wants a rematch, but at 122 pounds. Peñalosa is now 52-6-2 with 35 KOs.
In the third bout, Z Gorres won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) 115-pound Intercontinental title by stopping former World Boxing Council (WBC) junior flyweight champion Eric Ortiz of Mexico City at 2:15 of the eighth round. Gorres, a southpaw, improved to 27-2-1 (15 KOs).
AJ Banal, from Cebu ended his six-round junior bantamweight encounter with Jorge Cardenas in the third round with a short right hook after controlling the first two rounds. Banal remains unbeaten with a 14-0-1 (11) record while Cardenas fell to 9-4-3 (6).
Junior featherweight Michael Domingo (32-14-2, 12 by KOs) fashioned out a unanimous decision over Miguel Roman (21-1, 15 by KOs) who tasted his first defeat.
Junior bantamweight contender Diosdado Gabi of Davao City won an eight-round unanimous decision over Jose Angel Beranza to set the tone for the Philippines’ near shut out of Mexico.
