Cebuano boxer clobbers Mexican

CARSON, California — US-based Cebuano boxer Bruno Escalante held virtual clinic in a masterful six-round shutout of Mexico’s Nestor Ramos in the first match out of the historic ‘Pinoy Pride 33’ fightcard at the StubHub Center here.

From the outset, the Sibonga, Cebu-native Escalante showed fine fighting form, peppering the taller and bigger Ramos with well-calculated shots to the head and body.

Ramos though was able to size up Escalante in round two, countering with solid straights and jabs that at times forced the Fil-Am warrior based in Redwood, California to backtrack.

However, Escalante, whose failed Olympic dreams catapulted him to the pro ranks, quickly get back to business, delivering power punches and beautiful combinations at will for the rest of the bout although the Mexican was tough enough to weather the onslaught.

When the dust settled, the outcome was beyond question favoring the more aggressive and dominant Escalante, the reigning IBA super flyweight champion. The official scores were 60- 54 and 59-55 twice.

The 27-year Escalante, thus, improved his record to 14-1-1 spiked with 6KOs. It was his ninth straight victory since absorbing his first and only career defeat by unanimous decision to Matthew Villanueva in June 2012.— EBV (FREEMAN)