Jaca ‘The Bomb’ blasts Mexican in first round

LAS VEGAS — Jimrex Jaca, who almost failed to make it here because of visa problems, made sure Saturday that this wouldn’t be his first and last trip to the US.

The Filipino southpaw, trying to follow the footsteps of Manny Pacquiao, knocked out his Mexican opponent in the opening round of their super featherweight clash.

Thousands of fight fans were just starting to line up outside the Thomas and Mack Center when Jaca, only 22, climbed the ring against Geronimo Hernandez, 31,for his US debut.

It didn’t take long for Jaca, a boxer from Dumaguete City and being managed by Rex "Wakee" Salud, to make his presence felt inside the well-lighted ring.

He worked on the body of his shorter opponent, digging deep into it, and often connecting. At the 1:12 mark of the first round, he caught Hernandez with an left hook to the jaw.

This sent the Mexican down on his knees. At first he seemed unable to get up, but notheless managed to beat the count by veteran referee Joe Cortez.

Jaca then went for the kill, but Hernandez, trying to stay alive, managed to connect with some counter-punches. Little did the Mexican know that the end was soon to come.

"When I floored him the first time, I knew I had to go for the kill. But I became too eager to finish him off until I took a couple more shots to the body. That was the end of it," said Jaca.

After a solid left to the side of Hernandez’ body, Jaca drilled in another body shot to the right before landing a more powerful straight to the chin.

Hernandez just couldn’t take it anymore, kissing the canvas and forcing the referee to signal the end of the bout. It came in the 2:43 mark of the first round.

Jaca joyfully ran into his corner, then looked back at his opponent who was still down on the floor. It took a couple of seconds more before Hernandez was able to get up.

As Jaca celebrated on top of the ring with trainers Eric Brown and Gerry Balagbagan, the Filipinos who came in earlier than the rest celebrated, too.

Jaca improved his record to 25-1-1 with 11 knockouts while Hernandez, a late substitute, dropped to 15-15-1. He was simply no match against the younger, more powerful Jaca.

Jaca almost failed to make the trip after having problems securing a US visa. The intervention of Bacolod Congressman Monico Puentevella helped Jaca secure his visa.

He left Manila on Jan. 11 and stayed with Pacquiao in his Palazzo apartment. He trained at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood and came to Vegas just in time for Friday’s official weigh-in.

"Training in the US really makes a big difference," said Salud, who assured his ward of a longer stay in Los Angeles the next time he comes over to train. "We will let him train here in the US for three months and see where he’s headed. It just gives the boxers an extra boost training here, and fighting here," Salud added.

Definitely, we’ll see more of Jaca who’s just been labeled as "The Bomb."