philippine invasion

congratulations to all our filipino boxers! they all won with spectacular knockouts. another personal favorite of mine (besides manny of course) was A.J. 'Bazooka' Banal (17-0-1, 14 KO’s). the following article comes from philboxing.com:

MANILA--WBO bantamweight king Gerry Penalosa mowed down mandatory challenger Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in the eighth round of their scheduled 12-rounder at the Araneta Coliseum moments ago, before calling out Daniel Ponce De Leon for a second fight. Penalosa proved too sharp and precise against Vorapin, using a variety of shots and evading Vorapin's own power punches.

Penalosa proved too sharp and precise against Vorapin, using a variety of shots and evading Vorapin's own power punches.

The writing on the wall became clear when Penalosa caught Vorapin with a barrage in the fourth round that sent the Thai challenger glassy-eyed and barely able to walk back to his corner. In the fifth, Vorapin again found himself in dire straits following another series of Penalosa punches.

Bucking a cut on his forehead due to an accidental clash of heads in the eighth, Penalosa knocked down Vorapin with a nice combination, then followed it up to prompt referee Gino Rodrigues to stop the fight at the 2:31 mark of the round.

In the chief support, Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista returned to his old dangerous self, sending down Mexican Genaro Camargo thrice before stopping him at the 57-second mark of the second round. Referee Bruce McTavish counted out Camargo after another knockdown scored by Bautista in the second.

In a battle of unbeaten prospects, AJ "Bazooka" Banal proved to be the much-better fighter after he annihilated Caril Herrera of Uruguay via technical knockout in the fourth round.

Also making an impressive showing was Ciso "Kid Terrible" Morales, who looked very fast and crisp with his punches in stopping Korea's Yoo Shin Kim in the fifth round.

RP bantam champ Michael Domingo did not waste time with a second-round technical knockout win over Thepnimit Sor Chitpattana.

Bert Batawang of Cebu stopped Indonesia's Heri Amol in the seventh round of their scheduled 10-rounder.

Davao's Jessie Albaracin edged out previously unbeaten John Mark Apolinario via unanimous decision, while Eric Macas of Black Scorpion Stable TKO'd Rene Bucag in the fourth round.