Omega boxers go winless over the weekend

WHILE Donnie Nietes was putting on a masterful performance in his title defense against Francisco Rodriguez here in Cebu City, the Omega Gym boxers didn’t do so wellgoing 0-2-1 in two different shows.

Jhaleel Payao (11-1, 6 KOs) lost his World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth super flyweight crown with a unanimous decision defeat in the hands of Michael Dasmarinas (21-2, 13 KOs) in Mandaluyong City.

Down Gen. Santos City, for- mer world title contender Vergilio Silvano (20-5-1, 12 KOs) lost via a controversial unanimous decision to Jetro Pabustan (26-2-6, 7 KOs); Salatiel Amit (6-1-2, 4 KOs) suffered his first career defeat with a unanimous decision win by Jade Bornea (40, 2 KOs); and Jimboy Jaya (7-22, 4 KOs) settled to a split draw with Junel Lacar (7-1-2, 5 KOs).

The 21-year-old Payao was outclassed by a more experienced Dasmarinas with scores of 96-93, 96-93 and 97-92, suf- fering his first career loss.

“He was really beaten. His opponent really had more experience than him,” Omega Gym coach Christopher “Ping-Ping” Tepora said.

Tepora, however, couldn’t accept Silvano’s defeat because he believes that his ward dominated the fight.

“Silvano really won that fight. I don’t know what the judges saw. Pabustan really didn’t have a chance, we were shocked why he won,” he said. “We have a video. Even Pabustan’s manager and trainer admitted that they lost and were as shocked as us by the decision.”

Tepora tried to refute the decision but to no avail.

ALA Gym’s Jonas Sultan (9-2, 5 KOs), however, was the only Cebu-based boxer that logged a win after beating Rene Dacquel (14-5-1, 5 KOs) for the RP Youth super flyweight crown in one of the featured fights in Mandaluyong City.