MANILA – Ilonggo Arnel Baconaje took home the Philippine Games and Amusements Board super featherweight belt in a unanimous decision win over Jhon Gemino at the Okada Manila Hotel and Casino in Parañaque City.
The victory served as a bounce back for the San Rafael, Iloilo-native Baconaje after dropping his last two matches, including a split decision defeat to Philippine Boxing Federation super featherweight champion Presco Carcosia.
Baconaje had a dominant start in the first three rounds with his volume punches and combinations but was threatened by Gemino’s strong response in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds.
The Ilonggo boxer, however, controlled the action well in the succeeding rounds as he relentlessly jabbing, shoulder rolling defense, and answering Gemino with straight rights and uppercuts.
Both fighters exhibited fitness and resilience as the match went on a full route but its was the Ilonggo fighter who got the nod of the three judges with the scores of 116-112, 116-112, 117-111.
With the victory, the 29-year-old Baconaje improved his boxing record to 16 wins and seven losses, with 11 victories by way of stoppages, while the 31-year-old Gemino dropped his record to 23-17-1 win-loss-draw, with 13 KO wins.
Meanwhile, the World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific super featherweight belt remained vacant as Filipino Weljon Mindoro and Japanese Takeshi Inoue settled for a split draw.
Both fighters engaged in a tight battle in the full 12 rounds with one judge giving Mindoro a 115-113 score, the second judge favoring Inoue at 117-111 and the third judge scoring it 114-114.
Filipino Vince Paras, on the other hand, continued his winning ways as he scored a 77-75, 77-75, 79-73 unanimous decision victory over Japanese boxer Ayumu Hanada in the flyweight division.
Giemel Magramo scored a sixth round technical knockout victory over Thai fighter Phissanu Chimsunthom, while John Vincent Pangga halted Jonathan Francisco in five rounds./PN
