Controversy in title fight

There were apparent slip-ups in the 12th and last round of the close fight featuring Giemel Magramo against Judy Flores for the vacant Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) superflyweight title in a “Blow By Blow” event at the Okada Manila Grand Ballroom, Parañaque last Sunday night. Both fighters benefited from the miscues so neither could claim undue advantage over the other but because of the blunders, a rematch should be in order.

Referee Oliver Garcia ruled a knockdown in the final frame and gave Magramo a mandatory eight-count. Replay angles showed no punch landed and Magramo lost his balance to fall on the canvas. The bigger error was the timekeeper signaling the end of the round with about 35 to 40 seconds left.

The TV production crew later replayed the ending and confirmed the discrepancy. Flores’ manager JC Manangquil of SanMan Promotions said if it’s determined by the Games and Amusements Board upon review that there was time remaining, he would demand a rematch. Magramo wound up with the win by a split decision. Judge Ver Abainza had it 115-112 and judge Edwin Barrientos, 114-113, both for Magramo while judge Albert Dulalas scored it 115-112 for Flores. Abainza and Barrientos would’ve still had Magramo on top even if the disputed knockdown wasn’t called. If there was time left, Flores could’ve used it to try to steal the win with a late knockout.

But with or without the miscues, the fight deserves a rematch. Flores, 25, took the early lead behind a jarring left jab, preventing Magramo from charging in. Magramo, 30, patiently waited for Flores to tire out then launched a fiery assault to dominate the middle rounds. Flores got his second wind but Magramo had built enough cushion to neutralize the charge in the homestretch.

It was Magramo’s second OPBF title. He previously held the OPBF flyweight crown. The win raised Magramo’s record to 30-4, with 23 KOs. Flores’ slate dipped to 14-3, with eight KOs. It was Flores’ first loss to a Filipino as his two other defeats were to one-time Naoya Inoue challenger Antonio Nieves in Cleveland in 2022 and to former WBA superflyweight champion Andrew Moloney in Australia last year. Magramo fought for the WBO flyweight strap and bowed to Junto Nakatani on an eighth round stoppage in Tokyo in 2020.

In other “Blow By Blow” fights on the card, bantamweight Benny Canete eked out a split 10-round decision over Edward Heno, superbantamweights Bryan Cabrillos and Jimmy Cannu battled to a majority eight-round draw, lightweight Eman Bacosa defeated Rodelyn Perez on a majority six-round decision, bantamweight Ken Manasan beat Dariel Diamante on a majority six-round decision, lightweight Ken Danila decked Sherwin Lombres twice in the second round but hurt his right hand in the process then breezed to a win by a unanimous six-round verdict despite fighting one-armed the rest of the way, lightweight Roderick Ballesteros knocked out Jayson But-ay with a body shot at 0:48 of the second in a six-rounder, minimumweights Angelo Hapin and Ricson Hanginan fought to a majority four-round draw, flyweight Angelo Reyes trounced Nikko Colar on a unanimous four-round decision, featherweight Gerald Erederos was floored in the second round then dropped Ricky Batio-an twice in the third to secure a win by a unanimous four-round decision and superflyweight Mark Gaurana downed Darby Mandal twice in the first round then finished him off at 0:35 of the second in the curtain raiser.