Pinoys 4, World 0

C/P
By Edri K. Aznar

REY “Boom-Boom” Bautista escaped with a controversial fourth-round stoppage over Mexican Alejandro “Zorrito” Barrera last night at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino.

After an action-packed first three rounds, referee Tony Pesons, with the ring physician’s advice, ended the fight in 1:14 of the fourth because of a huge cut above Barrera’s right eye.

The 24-year-old Boholano was awarded with a technical knockout win by Pesons because the cut was caused by a legitimate punch. But that angered Barrera and his coach Victor Hugo Barrera Correa.

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“It was a clear head butt. He shouldn’t have given him the victory. The decision should have been a disqualification or a no contest. Barrera was just about to knockout ‘Boom-Boom,’” Correa told Sun.Star Cebu.

The 30-year-old Barrera, who gave Bautista a difficult fight, was distraught by the decision.

“I’m sad because it wasn’t the right decision. I want a rematch,” said Barrera.

ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer believes that it could’ve been a great fight had it gone longer.

“I didn’t see it. I don’t know if it was a head butt or a punch. Sayang, it was a good fight,” said Aldeguer

Aldeguer believes Bautista still needs to improve for him to join the elite fighters of the featherweight division.

Bautista improved to 29-2 with 22 knockouts, while Barrera fell to 20-4 with 13 knockouts.

Bautista is scheduled to fight in Dubai on Oct. 29 against Hector Villa.

World-rated Milan Milendo (22-0, 7 KOs) remained unbeaten as he demolished Korean flyweight champion Jin Man Jeon (13-4-1, 3 KOs) in 43 seconds of the second round.

Jeon failed to beat the referee’s count after falling to the mat from a left uppercut.

It only took one round for Cebuano banger Jimrex Jaca (31-6-3, 16 KOs) to stop Pipino Cuevas Jr. (14-6, 12 KOs).

Jaca landed a crushing left straight to the jaw of the 30-year-old Mexican that sent him to the canvas. Cuevas, who is the son of the former World Association welterweight champion of the 70’s with the same name, was counted out in 2:22 of the first.

Former International Federation mini-flyweight champion Florante Condes (24-5-1, 20 KOs) scored a unanimous decision over Indonesian Sofyan Effendi (10-9-2, 8 KOs) in a lopsided eight-round fight.

All three judges saw the fight, 80-71, in favor of the 30-year-old Condes.