MANILA – Filipino boxer Mike Plania notched the IBF North America super bantamweight belt with a unanimous decision victory over Nicaraguan Giovanni Gutierrez in Miami, Florida.
Plania was aggressive since the start of the match. He even sent Gutierrez to the canvass once before dominating the Nacaraguan pug en route to an identical 100-89 score from the three judges.
“I really thought he was done when he went down. I wanted to finish the fight early but props to my tough opponent. I did good though in boxing him the following rounds,” Plania said.
Added the General Santos native fighter, “I am hoping to go up in the IBF ranking having won the North America belt. I am praying hard for bigger fights next year especially for a world title fight.”
With the victory, Plania improved his record to 23-1-0, with 12 stoppage victories, while Gutierrez saw his slate dropped to 9-1-0, with six knockout victories.
Meanwhile, fellow Filipino John Vincent Moralde (W23 KO13 L3 D0) shocked Argentinian opponent Mattias Arriagada by knocking him down three times before the referee saved him from further punishment in the very first round.
“It was a step-up game for them
especially for Mike. We are targeting a world title match for him next year. A
little more polishing and he’s ready for the big time,” said Sanman Promotions
CEO Jim Claude Manangquil, who promotes Plania and Moralde./PN
