Benibe cops URCC bantamweight title

MANILA, Philippines - Andrew Benibe exacted sweet revenge over Rey Transmonte, scoring a technical knockout (TKO) to claim the vacant bantamweight title in the URCC 25 Colt 45 held Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Though he struggled early on, Benibe managed to pin Transmonte down in the fifth and final round where he punished his rival with vicious blows to the head to avenge his razor-thin defeat last year.

Sharing the limelight with Benibe in the event dubbed “Takeover” was Caloy Baduria who scored a sensational TKO win over Mark Palomar in the first round of their light heavyweight tussle.

Other first round winners in the event sponsored by Solar Sports, GMA 7, Tribal Gear, Chevrolet Makati, Hyundai Parañaque West, Shacman Motors, Inc and BYD Phl were Chris Hoffman and Carlo Laurel.

Combining power and speed, Hoffman knocked down former Phl Volcanoes star Nickson Kola in the one-minute mark of their light heavy tussle, while Laurel won by submission (triangle choke) over Ric Myler in their flyweight bout.

Lightweight Miguel Mosquera and bantamweight Dres Zamboanga, however, needed five rounds before downing Davao City’s Angelito Manguray and Joseph Mercado, respectively.

The rest of the nine-fight card ended after only two rounds with Alvin Solinap, Hideo Morikawa and Alvin Ramirez downing their respective rivals.

Ramirez scored a TKO win over Jessie Paul del Valle (flyweight), Solinap won by submission (rear naked choke) over Arnel Lomibao and Morikawa  also pulled off a TKO victory over Ryan Jakiri.