Never lose hope

Two Filipino fighters suffered losses in bids to capture a world title within days of each other last week. First to fall was Jonathan (Lightning) Taconing of Johnny Elorde’s stable. The Zamboanga del Norte southpaw lost to defending WBC lightflyweight champion Kompayak Porpramook via a disputed majority technical decision in the fifth round in Buriram, Thailand, last May 3. Next to tumble was Lorenzo (Thunderbolt) Villanueva of former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol’s Braveheart stable two days later. The Cotabato del Norte slugger dropped Indonesian veteran Daud Cino Yordan in the first round, failed to finish him off and was stopped in the second in a tumultuous reversal for the vacant IBO featherweight crown in Singapore.

Kompayak, 29, was on the verge of collapse when Korean referee Jae Bong Kim bailed him out, ruling the Thai unfit to continue because of a cut near his left eye inflicted by an accidental headbutt. It went to the scorecards and Kompayak managed to retain his title by a majority verdict. The judges’ scores showed a wide disparity. Mongolia’s Zanashir Taznas saw it a draw, 47-all. Japan’s Takeaki Kanaya had it a shutout, 50-45, for Kompayak – a ridiculous tally. New Zealand’s Geoff Belton scored it 48-46 for Kompayak.

“They stopped it because of a small cut,” said Elorde’s wife Liza who witnessed the injustice at ringside. “Kompayak was almost down in the fifth. He wouldn’t have lasted another round. He was really groggy. They already deducted one point from Taconing. Kompayak’s cut was too small. It was a crazy decision. Since they knew Kompayak was ahead on points after four rounds, they stopped it before the start of the sixth.” Elorde has requested WBC president Jose Sulaiman to order an immediate rematch because of the hasty stoppage.

Taconing was unbeaten in his last 10 outings before facing Kompayak. His only previous loss was a split six-round decision to Joe Galamition in 2008. Since turning pro in 2007, he has compiled a 13-2-1 record, with 10 KOs. In contrast, Kompayak is a grizzled veteran with a record of 45-3, with 30 KOs. Last December, he halted Mexico’s Adrian Hernandez to wrest the WBC 108-pound title in Thailand. The defense against Taconing was his first. Kompayak hasn’t lost in 23 bouts since bowing to Hussein Hussein in Australia in 2006. He made his pro debut seven years before Taconing and among his Filipino victims were Darius Alfante, Roger Mananquil, Larry Mede, Rick Paciones, Carlo Camacho, Rodel Tejares, Rollen del Castillo and Michael Rodriguez. 

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In 2002, Kompayak was knocked out in one round by Filipino Allan Ranada. But that didn’t faze the gutsy Thai. Kompayak persevered in the ring until nearly 10 years later, he finally became a world champion. Taconing should use Kompayak’s own struggles as an inspiration.

Villanueva entered the ring to battle Yordan with a 22-0 record, including 21 KOs, eight in the first round. The 5-7 banger had never fought outside of the Visayas and Mindanao, listing the likes of Mexico’s Diego Ledesma and Indonesia’s Eddy Camaro and James Mokoginta among his hapless victims.  

Yordan, 24, turned pro in 2005, two years before Villanueva, and has fought in Florida (losing to Panama’s fabled Celestino Caballero), Australia (stopping American Frankie Archuleta), Las Vegas (outpointing Mexico’s Antonio Meza) and San Jose, California (battling Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero to a no-contest). The Indonesian even went to Tanza, Cavite, to knock out Christian Abila in the sixth two years ago. Two other Filipino knockout victims were Ricky Sismundo and Robert Allanic. 

Yordan’s vast experience was evident in the Villanueva bout. He never lost his composure despite taking a knockdown in the first round. With Villanueva excitedly looking to end it, Yordan picked his spots and found the opening to stun the Filipino in the second. Twice, Villanueva took the mandatory eight-count before Australian referee Phil Austin waved it off.

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Angeles City-based New Zealander Bruce McTavish was a judge in the Yordan-Villanueva fight and said the Filipino is two years away from becoming a serious world title contender. No doubt, Villanueva has the potential to become a world champion. His power is a huge asset. What he lacks is experience and that will come in time. “In reality, this was Villanueva’s first pro fight,” said McTavish. “It was a PBA to NBA situation.”

Taconing and Villanueva shouldn’t lose heart because of the bumps on the road. In 2008, Amir Khan was knocked out in the first round by Breidis Prescott in Manchester but the Athens Olympic silver medalist bounced back to win the WBA lightwelterweight crown a year later. Manny Pacquiao had a perfect 11-0 record when he was stopped by Rustico Torrecampo in 1996. He rebounded two years later to wrest the WBC flyweight crown from Chatchai Sasakul – the first of his eight world titles in eight divisions. Flash Elorde was stopped on cuts by Sandy Saddler in his first attempt to win a world title in 1956 and four years later, began a long historic reign as world junior lightweight champion.

Taconing and Villanueva will be back. They’re proud Filipino warriors. Someday, they’ll be world champions and when that day comes, they’ll remember those losses last week as the turning point of their careers.