Libranza halts rival in ‘Blow’

MANILA, Philippines - Flyweight Genesis Libranza stopped Renerio Arizala in the second round of their scheduled 10-round bout to keep his unbeaten slate in the second edition of “Blow By Blow Reloaded” in Panabo City, Davao del Norte last Saturday.

But Cebu City’s Margarito Moya absorbed his first defeat when he succumbed to Ryan Rey Ponteras of the Braveheart team via technical knockout with only 11 seconds left in the 10th round of their junior bantamweight encounter.

The contrasting fortunes of the two prospects highlighted the tough competition in the monthly boxing tournament sponsored by Rep. Manny Pacquiao and Sports TV5 with Black Mamba Energy Drink as the main sponsor.

The 19-year-old Libranza of Agusan del Norte, a protege of Cong. Pacquiao and trained by Nonoy Neri, overcame a reach and height handicap and went deep inside Arizala, 23, of Quezon City who recently came home from Japan where he sparred for two months with a Japanese world champion.

After controlling the first round with crisp combinations to the body and head, Libranza caught Arizala with a thunderous left to the midsection followed by a cracking right upper which caused a deep cut over Arizala’s left eye.

Arizala fell to the canvas and referee Ronnie Mondejar waved off the fight at 2:59 of the second.

Moya, 19, who was making his first foray into the 10-round level of competition, found the 24-year-old Ponteras, a former journeyman who was coming out of a split decision loss to previously undefeated Jilbert Gomera, too tough to handle.

Ponteras overpowered the taller Moya and floored him in the seventh and then again in the last round before Moya, complaining of leg cramps, gave up with only 11 seconds remaining in the fight.

All 12 bouts featured in the second staging of “Blow By Blow Reloaded” lived up to the boxing program’s reputation as the toughest testing ground for upcoming Filipino boxers.

Pacquiao, who is the most outstanding product of the old “Blow By Blow,” re-launched “Blow By Blow Reloaded” to continue the search for future Filipino world champions.

All the fights are aired every Sunday at 2 p.m. on Sports TV5.

In other results, Orly Silvestre won over Allan Doronila (KO 1:49 Round 1), Marvelo Aballe won over John Rey Logatiman (MD 8 Rounds), Elias Joaquino won over Aries Buenavidez (SD 8 Rounds), Rene Mark Cuarto won over Jerome Clavite (UD 8 rounds), Michael Bravo won over Rolly Bersabal (KO 0:33 Round 2), Jelo Bacalso versus Carlito Antaran, Jr. (Draw 4 Rounds), Raymart Lumacad won over Junrex Saldivia (TKO 0:39 Round 1), Jason Nero won over Ramel Antaran (UD 4 Rounds),  Vincent Dayaganon versus Marvin Viloria (MD 4 Rounds) and Ramshane Sarguilla won over Roger Salaton (UD 4 Rounds).