MANILA – Negrense boxer Arthur Villanueva clinched the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia South bantamweight title after a ninth round stoppage win over Jakpan Sangtong of Thailand at the Lalak Jan Stadium Jutiyal at Gilgit City in Pakistan.
A native of Bago City, Negros Occidental, Villanueva was the aggressor since the opening bell. He unloaded massive combinations towards Sangtong.
The 33-year-old Villanueva found his much-needed opening from Sangtong’s defense in the ninth round. He connected a right uppercut that sent the Thai fighter to the canvas.
“All glory and honor belongs to God. I want to thank those who have supported me while preparing for this fight, my sparring partners, my family and my kababayans in Bago City,” Villanueva wrote on his Facebook page on Monday.
Villanueva, a two-time world championship challenger, was accompanied by new manager Darwin Miller and trainer Jayvee Alipio of Highland Boxing Stable in Pakistan.
Villanueva now has 34 wins with 19 knockouts against four losses and one draw while Sangtong dropped to five defeats against 11 wins with four knockouts.
But unlike Villanueva, fellow Bago City native fighter Aston Palicte was unsuccessful in his boxing return after suffering a third round stoppage loss to Australian Jason Moloney in Australia.
At stake in the 10-round bout were World Boxing Council (WBC) Silver and World Boxing Organization (WBO) International bantamweight championship.
Palicte was dominated by Moloney since the opening bell before he was knocked down twice by the Aussie fighter in the third round, prompting the referee to stop the match.
With the defeat, the 31-year-old Palicte saw his record drop to 28-5-1 win-loss-draw, with 23 stoppage wins, while Moloney improved to 24-2-0, with 19 KO wins./PN
