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[av_heading tag=’h3′ padding=’10’ heading=’Unanimous decision hands Petalcorin IBF light flyweight belt’ color=” style=’blockquote modern-quote’ custom_font=” size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ custom_class=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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MANILA – Randy Petalcorin captured the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Pan Pacific light flyweight title after a unanimous-decision victory over Arnold Garde at Robinsons mall in General Santos City.
The Wednesday night victory also moved the General Santos City native closer to being a contender for the IBF light flyweight title currently held by the Japanese Akira Yaegashi.
Petalcorin started the match oozing with confidence. He launched numerous combinations, including a left job and body punches that rocked his much younger opponent in the middle of the match.
Garde then showed his prowess in the middle rounds with strong rights, but Petalcorin was unstoppable, with his quick attacks enough to take the nod of the three judges, 100-89, 98-91, 98-91.
“The endgame here for Team Petalcorin is [to fight] IBF world champion Akira Yaegashi, but he (Petalcorin) needs to fight interim champion Milan Melindo next, so we just have to wait patiently and see what happens,” said the Filipino’s promoter Peter Maniatis.
With the win, the 24-year-old Petalcorin increased his boxing slate to 25-2-1, with 18 wins coming by way of knockouts, while the 26-year-old Garde’s boxing record went down to 7-4-2, including three stoppage victories.
In the co-main event of the fight card presented by Sanman Promotions of Jim Claude Manangquil and Dexter Tan, Eden Sonsona made a successful ring return with a majority-decision win over Jaime Barcelona.
In other results, John Vincent Moralde scored a first-round knockout victory over Joas Apericio, while Lolito Sonsona halted veteran Jetly Purisima, and Benjain Mananquil defeated Romulo Ramayan./PN
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