Not too late for Laput

MANILA, Philippines - The fight was stopped with WBO Intercontinental superbantamweight champion Ramie Laput sprawled on the canvas, face first, but the Digos, Davao del Sur, fighter won on an 11th round disqualification over Thai veteran Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in Cebu two weeks ago and now, things are looking up for the once hard-luck kid who turned pro in 1998 and disappeared from the boxing scene for three years.

Promoter Sammy Gello-ani said yesterday the timing couldn’t be better for Laput to make his move up the world ratings. He’s the WBO No. 6 contender and Gello-ani is pushing for a crack at the title held by Puerto Rico’s Juan Manuel Lopez.

The win over Ratanachai, a former world champion who has lost twice to Gerry Peñalosa, was a clear statement that Laput is for real. In a bloody fight, Laput boxed the Thai silly and punished him with a two-fisted attack. Way behind on points, the exasperated Ratanachai lost his cool and unleashed a flying round-house left kick to the head as New Zealand referee Bruce McTavish watched in shock.

The fit of rage came after Ratanachai suffered a deep cut due to an accidental headbutt. The kick sent Laput clear across the ring from one neutral corner to the other and McTavish promptly disqualified Ratanachai. The crowd of 2,000 jeered the Thai as he left the ring.

“It was an act of frustration,” McTavish said. “Laput kept beating Ratanachai to the punch. The Thai was bleeding from cuts above both eyes from punches and that headbutt. He was desperate. It reminded me of Roberto Duran’s exasperation when he fought Sugar Ray Leonard in the ‘no mas’ match. I was about to step in and call for the doctor when suddenly, Ratanachai threw a kick.”

Ratanachai, 32, has been a pro since 1993 with over 80 fights under his belt. He started the blood-letting as a wayward butt opened a cut over Laput’s left eyebrow in the second round. Laput, however, shrugged off the bleeding and just went after Ratanachai with more resolve.

The three judges Noel Flores, Edgar Olalo and Edwin Barrientos had Laput ahead on their cards at the time of the stoppage.

After he won the Philippine superflyweight title in August 2003, Laput was unheard of for three years. He had managerial problems and figured in several unrecorded bouts in Indonesia. Then he resurfaced in 2007 with new manager Ken Smith, a Texas businessman who operates the American Boxing Academy in Digos and is engaged in construction. Smith designated “Stormin’” Norman Wilson, an American who lives in Digos, to train Laput.

Making up for lost time, Laput logged 10 fights last year and is on a hot streak – he is unbeaten in his last 22 bouts dating back to 2002 after suffering back-to-back losses to Randy Mangubat and Roselito Campana.

“I know Laput has been around and I wanted to test him against an experienced former world champion,” said Gello-ani who has the exclusive promotional rights to Laput. “I told Ken if Laput gets by Ratanachai, that’s a sign he’s ready for the big time.”

Gello-ani said Smith’s stable is slowing gaining prominence in fistic circles and another fighter Fernando (Tata) Lumacad will be severely tested in a bout against former world champion Jorge (Travieso) Arce for the vacant IBF Intercontinental superflyweight crown in Juarez, Mexico, on June 20.

“Ken has entrusted his boys to me and I promised him I’ll do my best to give his fighters a break if they deserve it,” said Gello-ani.

Lumacad, 23, has a 19-1-2 record, with seven KOs, and hasn’t lost in his last eight fights since dropping a decision to Wandee Singwancha in Bangkok two years ago. Arce, 29, isn’t a pushover even if he’s coming off a knockout loss to Vic Darchinyan last February. Before the Darchinyan fight, Arce had won five in a row, including a knockout over A. J. Banal’s tormentor Rafael Concepcion.