Valiant Vitor overcomes second-round scare to destroy tough Korean in seven
Adds WBO Oriental super featherweight title to his collection
TAGBILARAN CITY - When the going gets tough, Virgel Vitor lived up to his “El Valiente” ring name.
Vitor fought back valiantly after a harrowing second-round ordeal on the way to demolish the tough as nails Korean Tae Sun Kim in an explosive ending to PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions’ “Kumong Bal-anon 14” on Friday night, March 8, at the Saulog Gym here.
The gallant Vitor waded though some scary moments when he was nearly stopped by the very game Kim in the dying seconds of round two.
But aided by sheer luck, Vitor showed great recuperative powers to eventually dismantle the Korean warrior in round seven and in the process capture the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental super featherweight belt.
“Gikulbaan gyud ko og maayo atong puntoha. Misaka ang akong dugo ug galisud ko’g ginhawa tungod sa kakuyaw. Maayo na lang paspas iyang recovery tungod kay kondisyon siya ,” said PMI Boxing promoter and manager Atty. Floriezyl Echavez Podot in describing what he felt during Vitor’s near knockout episode.
Actually, it was the 26-year-old Vitor who first sent Kim down on both knees early in the second round.
Kim quickly recovered though and subsequently returned the favor on Vitor, dropping Bohol’s hometown pride at the seat of his pants with a powerful head shot late in that frame.
Obviously dazed and groggy and still seeing stars, Vitor struggled to remain standing and keep his balance with rubbery legs.
Vitor was on the brink of defeat but just as Kim was about to go for the kill, the Tagbilaranon ring gladiator was fortunately saved by the bell.
“Napawong gyud akong panan-aw atong tungora pero tungod kay duna koy kaisog, determinado gyud ko nga makabarog,” shared Vitor on how he overcame such a frightening moment.
Gaining a second wind, Vitor bravely charged back starting in the third until the middle part of a scheduled 10-rounder.
As the two boxers fearlessly battled toe-to-toe, Vitor delivered a crisp right straight to the jaw that sent the Korean flat on the mat right there and then.
While Kim laid prone on the canvas writhing in pain and gasping for air, referee Danrex Tapdasan wasted no time in waving off the bout at the 49-second mark of round seven.
“Kon tagaan og chance maka-away og world title, bisan kinsa nila nga world champion akong banggaon,” Vitor declared moments after improving his record to 22-3 now packed with 15KOs. Kim suffered his only second setback in 15 pro fights with two draws and 8KOs.
In the supporting main event, the undefeated “Cebuano Assassin” Remart Tagacanao ( 8-0, 7KOs) from Napo, Carcar City scored a smashing sixth round stoppage of Indonesian Hamson Lamandau to grab the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia super flyweight crown.
Meanwhile, reigning WBO AsiaPacific minimumweight champion Christian Balunan from Consolacion, Cebu demolished the veteran Clyde Azarzon of Cebu City’s Big Yellow Stable in just two rounds to stretch his perfect record to 10-0 now spiked with 6KOs.