Sinulog Boxing Festival: Batawang KOs Tepura in first round

It looked that Father Time hasn't caught up yet with SGG Stable stalwart Bert Batawang.

And the interesting thing is that Batawang gets even better, his skills sharper than ever as he continues his pursuit to win a world title someday.

The 34-year-old Batawang personified all that after he hardly broke a sweat in pulling off a smashing first-round knockout of Pingping Tepura in the other night's Sinulog Boxing Festival witnessed by a mammoth crowd at the Gaisano Countrymall carpark.

Presented by SGG Sports Promotions of international promoter Sammy "Don King" Gello-ani, the annual slugfest is ALA Boxing Gym's tribute to the Sinulog festivities honoring Cebu's miraculous patron Señor Sto. Niño.

In a report by hilboxing.com, Batawang planted a powerful right uppercut to the chin to floor Tepura on both knees for good at the 2:48 mark of the first round.

With the win, Batawang improved his record to 40-12-3 (33KOs). On top of that, it brightened his chances to possibly challenge WBO light flyweight champion Hugo Cazares in the "World Cup of Boxing" set in July or August in Cebu.

In the supporting main event of the Sinulog card, former Philippine flyweight titlist Federico Catubay forced Nelson Guindolan to throw in the towel at 2:12 of the fourth round.

Thus, Catubay sealed a February 26 showdown against Eric Barcelona for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight crown in Cagayan De Oro City.

Also, Rogen Flores scored a third round TKO win over Allan Dugang, while Nelson Llanos needed just two minutes in decking Raschied Bacus.

The rest of the bout saw Ricky Sismundo of Harada Stable winning by unanimous decision against Gil Melligen, Nic Banal stopping Ranie Pamatian at 2:03 of the second round and Mark John Yap beating Daryl Amoncio by unanimous verdict.