MANILA – Negrense boxer Carlo Caesar Peñalosa failed to clinch the IBO world flyweight championship. He suffered a split technical decision loss to Mexican Maximino Flores at the TV5 Studio in Novaliches, Quezon City.
The San Carlos City native failed to wrestle the world title on Sunday. He only got the nod of New Zealander judge Kevin Pyne (67-66).
Adam Hyte from Australia (67-66) and Filipino Jerold Teldan (68-65) saw it for Flores.
Flores was the aggressor early. He unleashed a flurry of punches after catching Peñalosa on the ropes.
Peñalosa also connected several solid hits but Flores outworked him in the first few rounds.
Midway in the bout, Peñalosa was able to land a sneaky left straight as Flores was coming in but these did not appear to bother the Mexican visitor.
Peñalosa suffered a cut on the left brow on an accidental head butt in the third.
Flores continued to smother Peñalosa in the fifth round by putting his head down, moving forward.
A confusion emanated in the sixth frame after it was though that the match was halted due to Peñalosa’s cut.
It was officially halted before the start of the eighth round as the cut on Peñalosa’s brow worsened.
With the defeat, Peñalosa dropped his record to 14-2-0 win-loss-draw ring record, including seven stoppage wins.
On the other hand, the 28-year-old Flores improved to 25-4-1 boxing slate, with 18 knockout wins./PN