Elorde decisions Thai, cops WBO title

MANILA, Philippines - Juan Martin “Bai” Elorde scored heavily in the late rounds to hack out a unanimous decision win over Maxsaisai Sithsaithong of Thailand and capture the vacant World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific super featherweight title at the Sofitel Hotel grand ballroom in Pasay City recently.

Elorde found his range and came through with combinations in the seventh to ninth rounds to beat his Thai rival in the highlight of the 13th Gabriel “Flash” Elorde Boxing Awards in honor of the boxing legend and his late grandfather.

Among those who witnessed the young Elorde’s triumph was Elorde’s widow, Laura, the matriarch of the famous boxing clan, and the 28-year-old southpaw’s proud parents, Liza and Johnny, who was his son’s second in the corner.

Judges Salven Lagumbay and Greg Ortega scored it 98-92 while Gil Co saw it 97-93, all in favor of the younger Elorde, who fought in a 10-rounder for the first time. The win raised his record to 14 victories, including six knockouts, against one loss.

Sithsaithong tried to go all-out in the final round but fell short, absorbing his second straight setback against 12 wins (3 KOs) in the card sponsored by Cobra Energy Drink, PCSO, Rotary Club Manila 101 and Sofitel Hotel.

“He’s strong and I got tired since this was the first time I fought in a 10-rounder,” said Elorde, who sustained bruises under both eyes after the match.

Both boxers sized up each other in the first three rounds before Sithsaithong pressed his bid in the fourth by lowering his guard, baiting Elorde to hit him to no avail.

The Thai then stepped up his attack in the fifth and sixth, hurting the hometown bet with his right but Elorde gamely fought back and landed punches of his own in the succeeding three rounds en route to the unanimous decision win.

Stablemate Monico Laurente retained his Philippine bantamweight title, also via unanimous decision against Elmar Francisco while Jonathan Taconing beat Yodpichai Sithsaithong by TKO in the fifth round of their 10-round duel at 112 pounds.