Jaca TKOs Duran to grab RP crown

Jimrex Jaca of RWS Stable stopped former OPBF featherweight champion Samuel Duran in the second round to capture the RP jr lightweight title in the other night's "Handog Para sa Birthday ni Mayor Damian G. Mercado" card at the Maasin City Gym in Leyte.

Jaca flattened the hapless Duran for good at 2:56 of the second round to wrest the throne vacated by ALA standout Czar Amonsot, who is now the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific super featherweight titlist.

The 22-year-old Jaca, managed by Cebu bigtime promoter Rex "Wakee" Salud, improved his win-loss-draw record to 24-1-1 spiked with 11KOs.

It was Jaca's second straight victory via second round stoppage and third overall since losing to Japanese Yasuo Kunimi in his bid to seize the OPBF super bantamweight crown on May 30 last year in Kanazawa, Japan.

Duran, on other hand, suffered his 27 defeats in 100 fights that include 71 wins, 35 by knockout, and two draws since turning pro in 1987.

In the supporting main event of the slambang fisticuffs promoted by RWS International Promotions in partnership with Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay, Maasin's hometown pride Alex Aroy fought to a third round technical draw with Zamboanga's Noel Veronque.

Valencia, Bukidnon's Rey Llagas, on the other hand, forced Sogod, Leyte's Rey Destriza into retirement before the start of the eighth round, while Mandaue City's Apol Suico knocked out Misamis Oriental's Eddie Villegas at 1:07 of the second round.

The rest of the bouts of this exciting boxfest held to highlight Maasin City Mayor Damian G. Mercado's birthday saw Armando Casa and Edwin Ramugan both prevailing by unanimous decision over Gideon Amba and Abner Llanasa, respectively.