NEGRENSE boxer John Michael Zulueta captured the International Boxing Organization (IBO) Oceania and Oriental minimumweight titles following a unanimous decision win over Ariston Aton on Saturday night at Gaisano City Mall in Bacolod City.
The newly-acquired titles were the Calatrava, Negros Occidental native Zulueta’s second and third in the division as he also holds the Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) minimumweight belt.
Zulueta was the aggressor early in the title match as he pummelled the Cebu native Aton with multiple combinations, including a huge left straight that rocked the defense of the latter.
Aton attempted to turn things around in the second half of the bout but Zulueta regained his dominance with his counter punches enough to secure a favorable score from the judges.
With the victory, the 23-year-old Zulueta kept his unbeaten record of 10-0-2 win-loss-draw slate, with three stoppage wins, while the 19-year-old Aton dropped to 7-1-0 card, including four knockout wins.
Meanwhile, Negrense Joepher Montano bagged the ABF light welterweight belt after a sixth round stoppage win on Rodel Wenceslao in the co-main event of the boxing card that was presented by the Highland – Guanzon Boxing Promotion.
The Bago City native Montano immediately imposed his presence on Wenceslao with his powerful hits en route to ending the match in six rounds and raise his record to 10-4-2, with 9 KO wins. The latter’s slate dropped to 13-18-2 slate with five knockout wins./PN
