Sabaupan stops Tanzanian in eighth round

MANILA, Philippines - Promising Al “Captain A” Sabaupan scored a sensational eight-round technical knockout over Sadiki Momba of Tanzania in their lightweight match recently before an overflow crowd at the Camarines Sur Convention Center.

Sabaupan didn’t disappoint his fellow Camsureños as he survived an early onslaught by Momba, before taking control in the later rounds behind his versatile punching style and tenacity that proved  too much for his Tanzanian opponent.

A southpaw, Sabaupan relentlessly worked on Momba’s body, almost sending him to the canvas just as the decisive round was coming to an end.

The corner of the Tanzanian eventually opted not to let Momba answer the bell for the next round, handing the TKO win for Sabaupan, a native of Sipocot, Camarines Sur.

Following the win, the Filipino lightweight improved his record to 22-2-1 (17KOs), while Momba fell to 16-4-2 (4 KOs).

The Sabaupan-Momba fight served as the main event of the boxing extravaganza dubbed “Pride and Glory”.

The boxing card was one of the highlights of the province’s annual `Kaogma Festival’ that featured four other pro bouts and three undercards.

Scheduled for 10 rounds, Momba, fighting here for the first time, came out strong and swarmed over Sabaupan, who was staggered by the Tanzanian in the second round.

Momba’s  flurry of well-timed combinations silenced the hometown crowd well into the fourth round, until Sabaupan rallied back with a solid jab to the chin that stunned his opponent.

Sabaupan took control beginning the middle rounds, and had Momba in trouble during the sixth when a vicious right uppercut caused the Tanzanian’s mouthpiece to fly out.