Aguelo knocks out Tubigon in four to snatch PBF crown

CEBU, Philippines - Adones "TI Yamagata" Aguelo pulled off a resounding fourth round knockout of Gadwin Tubigon to snatch the PBF featherweight championship in the main event of a boxing and dancing extravaganza bankrolled by Japanese impresario Akira Sato of TI Yamagata Promotions the other night at the Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex. Aguelo pressed the attack button right after the opening bell, sneaking in an assortment of solid blows to the head and body but the challenger from Dipolog City withstood the onslaught and was game enough to trade fistic bombs with the Mandaue-based Maasin City fighter for most of the first three rounds.

In the middle of another heated exhange of power punches, Aguelo landed a jaw-breaking left uppercut and followed it up with energy-sapping body shots that sent the fagged out Tubigon down at the seat of his pants.

Tubigon, gasping for air, failed to beat the count, prompting referee Teddy Alivio to wave off the match at the 1:20 mark of the fourth round.

Sato was impressed with Aguelo's performance that he plans to book his ward to a WBO Oriental title bout sometime in August at the same venue.

"That's my immediate plan, Aguelo to fight for the vacant WBO Oriental title in August," said Sato through his most trusted trainer Crisologo "Brix" Flores.

In the supporting bouts, TI Yamagata Valero stopped Michael Bastasa at 1:02 of the second round in their flyweight duel, while Jayson Egera of Siaton, Negros Oriental forced Edison Serano to hoist the white flag of surrender also in round two of a scheduled eight-rounder under the featherweight division.

Valero sent Bastasa down on both knees late in he first round, but Bastasa was able to get up at the count of eight and was fortunate enough to be saved by the bell.

In the next frame, Valero landed another collection of punishing blows capped by a crushing left cross to the chin that sent Basta staggering against the ropes, so dazed and wobbly that referee Ben Necessario did not bother to enforce the mandatory count.

Egera also caught the fancy of the small throng of spectators when he consistenty delivered power hits that eventually snuffed the air out of Serano's nose.

As the two warriors held each other, Serano signalled to his corner that he already ran out of gas, forcing his trainer to throw in the towel at the 2:32 mark of the second round.

In the other results, Dodong Masashi won by TKO at the end of the second round over Jaime Bermosa, while Jayvee Galea and TI Yamagata Ardie both prevailed by unanimous decision over Roel Sumabong and Robert Awitin, respectively. (FREEMAN)