Tuñacao decks Esquivel in WBC elimination bout

CEBU, Philippines - Japan-based Cebuano boxer Malcolm "Eagle Eye" Tuñacao bolstered his chances of fighting for a world title again after he scored a seventh round stoppage of Mexican Christian Esquivel in their WBC bantamweight elimination bout last Saturday night at the Central Gym in Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. The official time was 2:10.

The win earned the 35-year-old Tuñacao a mandatory shot at the WBC 118-pound crown currently held by Shinsuke Yamanaka (17-0-2, 12KOs) of Japan.

Tuñacao bettered his record to 32-2-3 now spiked with 20KOs, while  Esquivel suffered his fourth career defeat with 25 victories, 18 by way of knockout.

"I want to become a two-division world champion. That's really my goal and I will work doubly hard to achieve it," said Tuñacao, who once reigned as the WBC flyweight champion after knocking out Thai Medgeon Singsurat in the seventh round on May 19, 2000 in Udon Thani, Thailand. It was only the 11th fight of his career.

After settling for a draw with Japanese Celes Kobayashi in his first defense, the Mandaue City-native Tuñacao eventually lost his WBC belt via first round knockout to Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam on March 2, 2001 in Pitchit, Thailand.

Tuñacao went on to campaign in the bantamweight division and is now on an 11-fight winning streak. (FREEMAN)