Lopez floors Thai in second

MANILA, Philippines - Silvester Lopez made short work of Thailand’s Wandee Singwancha, scoring a second-round TKO win to retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) super flyweight championship in stunning fashion at the Ynares Sports Center Saturday night.

Beating Singwancha to the draw, Lopez caught the Thai – left open as he was set to unleash his right – with a swift and vicious left hook to the kisser near the close of the first round that left him dazed and kneeling at the canvas.

After knocking down Singwancha once more in the middle of the second, Lopez finally ended the fight with a three-punch combination, capped by another stinging left hook that sent the Thai to his knees for the third and final time.

American referee Gene del Bianco then stepped in to stop the slaughter, calling it a night for the outclassed Thai in two minutes, 10 seconds of the second round in the “Bakbakan sa Elorde” mainer supported by Rizal Gov. Jun Ynares and backed by Ginebra San Miguel, Burlington socks and Gerry’s Grill.

“When I saw him lower his guard near the end of the first round, I instantly connected with a hook,” said the 22-year-old Kabalasan, Zambonga Sibugay native, who was himself surprised but pleased at the abbreviated outcome.

“The Thai was also a strong puncher   but he did not hurt me,” added Lopez in making his second successful title defense while raising his record to 14 wins (10 KOs), two losses and one draw.

“He (Singwancha) didn’t see that left coming near the end of the first round,” said Canadian assistant trainer David Trehanne of the punch that led to the Thai’s downfall. “It really hurt him.”