Freeman Cebu Sports

Laayibiekie dethrones Vitor via 5th round KO

July 29, 2024 | 12:00am

Laayibiekie dethrones Vitor via 5th round KO

No hard feelings. In an admirable show of sportsmanship, Yeerjialahasi Laayibieke (R) of China and Virgel “Valiente” Vitor of Bohol pose for posterity after their championship bout topbilling the “Kumong Bol-anon 17” of PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions on Saturday, July 27 at the Bohol Wisdom School (BWS) Gym in Tagbilaran City.

Manny Villaruel

CEBU, Philippines — Chinese brawler Yeerjialahasi Laayibieke (10-2, 7KOs) dethroned Bohol’s hometown pride Virgel “Valiente” Vitor (22-4, 15KOs) via fifth-round knockout to emerge as the new WBO Oriental super featherweight champion in the main event of “Kumong Bol-anon 17” fight card of PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions on Saturday, July 27 at the Bohol Wisdom School (BWS) Gym in Tagbilaran City.

The aggressive visitor from Beijing, China came out firing right from the opening bell, flooring Vitor in the third round before peppering the hapless Boholano with vicious head and body shots that prompted referee Danrex Joseph Tapdasan to halt the carnage at the 1:05 mark of round five.

In the face of Vitor’s stunning defeat though, PMI Stable still has a lot of reason to be happy about.

Gerwin Asilo (9-0, 4KOs) scored a smashing second-round stoppage of Thai Surat Eaim Ong (19-6-1, 14KOs) to claim the WBO Oriental bantamweight belt, while Althea Shine Pores (5-0, 1KOs) prevailed over Maria Theresa Pinili (6-1, 2KOs) of Iligan City by unanimous decision in a battle of undefeated lady ring gladiators to grab the Philippine Female light flyweight crown.

PMI’s other mainstays in “Sugar” Shane Gentallan, super flyweight contender Reymart “Cebuano Assassin” Tagacanao of Carcar City, and reigning WBO Asia Pacific Youth minimumweight titlist Christian Balunan of Consolacion, Cebu also came out victorious.

Gentallan (10-1, 5KOs) edged Ariston Aton (9-11-1, 5KOs) of Cagayan de Oro City by unanimous verdict in a highly entertaining match-up, Tagacanao (9-0, 7KOs) kept his unbeaten record intact with a well-deserved unanimous decision win over a very game Renoel Pael (23-16-1) of Matalum, Leyte, while Balunan (11-0, 7KOs) forced Dexter Alimento (13-14, 9KOs) of Batangas City to throw in the towel before the start of round three.

In an all-Cebuano opening bout, flyweight prospect Angelus “Pitbull” Pilapil (3-0, 2KOs) of ARQ Stable needed just 80 seconds to dismantle Kier Torregosa (2-6-2, 1KOs).