Stephen Loman leads Pinoy success in Brave 22

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino Stephen Loman hacked out a fourth-round technical knockout of Algerian Elias Boudegzdame to retain the bantamweight title in the Brave 22: Storm of Warriors at the MOA Arena in Pasay Friday night.

After surviving some takedown attempts by his foe in the earlier rounds, the 27-year-old Loman unleashed vicious strikes in the fourth round including that jarring left that dropped Boudegzdame, who received more unanswered shots before the referee decided to end the fight at the 4.59-minute mark of the round.

That sent Loman to his third successful title defense, seventh straight victory and 13th overall against two defeats while dealing Boudegzdame his fifth setback against 15 triumphs.

“We still have the belt here,” said Loman to the delight of the crowd.

In the other main card, Rolando Dy, son of former boxing champion Rolando Navarette, vowed a first-round knockout win and delivered one against Pakistani Mehmosh Raza.

Curtains fell when Dy unleashed a straight that sent Raza’s mouthpiece flying, prompting the referee to stop the fight at 4:01.

Dy improved to 10-7 (1 no contest) and got his second win at Brave after he was released by the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he fought in four bouts and won just one.

Other Filipinos who also won were Jeremy Pacatiw, who stopped Marc Alcoba via submission in the third round; Harold Banario, who sealed a first-round win with a kneebar against Ariel Oliveros; Jayson Margallo, who defeated Rex de Lara via unanimous decision; and Jomar Pa-ac, who decisioned Indian Satya Behuria.