Butar Butar knocks out Amonsot in 47 seconds; AJ 'Bazooka' Banal TKOs Thai foe

TAGBILARAN CITY - After being stripped of his title for failing to make the required weight limit, Boholano boxer Czar Amonsot just made things even worse.

Instead of becoming a source of joy, Amonsot turned himself into object of disgrace before the eyes of his townmates.

So shocking that the solid pro career Amonsot built for nearly three years collapsed in less than a minute right at his hometown.

These were the harsh after effects for Amonsot when Indonesian hard-puncher Simson Butar Butar scored a smashing first round knockout of the pride of Tagbilaran to emerge as the new WBO Asia Pacific super featherweight champion.

Thus, Butar Butar improved his record to 15-5-2 with 11KOs, while Amonsot slipped to 17-2-1 (1KOs), with all his two losses coming at the hands of the Indonesian.

A defeaning silence blanketed the once lively Island City Mall carpark here as the Boholanos watched their prized fighter crashed onto the canvass after being hit by Butar Butar's powerful right overhand to the jaw.

Perhaps in a display of pretended confidence, Amonsot quickly got up, but fell down on both knees, forcing referee Bruce MacTavish of New Zealand to wisely wave off the bout at 47 seconds of the opening session.

Still dizzy and glassy-eyed, Amonsot again stood up, but staggered around.

While Amonsot was being attended by ringside physicians, thousands of spectators who braved the slight drizzle just to witness the fistic show were literally left in funeral silence.

Only the loud cry of Amonsot's despondent mother resonated the fight venue at that moment.

Put up by SGG Sports Promotions in partnership with the city government of Tagbilaran under the dynamic leadership of Mayor Dan Neri Lim, the slambang event was actually billed as "Fight for Revenge."

It turned out to be a fight for shame.

Amonsot was floored by Butar Butar in the fifth round during their first meeting in February last year in Indonesia. Given a chance to get even and prove his real worth, he couldn't perform any better.

On the eve of the bout, Amonsot was already stripped of his belt for his failure to make the 130-pound limit at the official weigh-in. Some quarters believed that Amonsot's attitude problem weakened his once robust career.

"As Amonsot's former manager, my advise for him is to straighten up his attitude problem. If he can't do it, it would be better for him to retire," said Aldeguer.

When asked what future awaits Amonsot, Aldeguer replied:"Only him can answer that question."

Mayor Lim also couldn't hide his disappointment on Amonsot's performing below par.

"He's now a goner. I think nobody will take him anymore," said Mayor Lim, who was an ardent benefactor of Amonsot. "We gave him all the chance to make things up, but he refused to heed on our advice."

Still, the Boholanos have something to be proud of with the splendid performances of Alex John "Bazooka" Banal and welterweight prospect Mark Jason Melliguen in the card also sponsored by Weesam Express of Hajie Wahab Amil, Island City Mall, Unitop and Meravilla Resorts.

Banal won by TKO before the start of the seventh round over the previously undefeated Thai Sing Carryboy, while Melliguen planted a solid left hand to the face to flatten Indonesian Michael Tarsius at the 1:43 mark of the third round.

The usually aggressive Banal peppered Sing with a barrage of energy-sapping body shots in the sixth round. The Thai visitor seemed to have run out of gas after enduring that heavy bombardments, prompting his corner to throw in the towel.

Banal stretched his unbeaten record to 9-0-1 now spiked with eight knockouts, while Melliguen made it 4-0 with all his wins via stoppage since turning pro early this year.

In the other featured bouts, Nic Banal won over Jing Supremo by TKO at 0:54 of the second round, Glen Masicampo beat Melvin Ayudtud by sixth round technical decision and Arnel Tadena stopped Alan Dugang in 44 seconds of the 10th round.

In the preliminary matches, Leon Maratas prevailed by unanimous decision over Markyll Taroja, while Franklin Albia defeated Ricky Sismundo by majority decision.