Silvano captures WBO belt
VERGILIO Silvano captured the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental light flyweight belt last Saturday night in an exhilarating brawl with veteran Jetly Purisima at the Balamban Sports Complex.
“It was a great fight. Purisma almost got dropped in the first round. Silvano also almost went down in the second round. In the 12th Purisma got knocked down twice, but got saved by the bell,” Silvano’s coach Christopher “Ping-Ping” Tepora told Sun.Star Cebu.
The 23-year-old Silvano was given the unanimous decision with scores of 116-110, 116-110 and 115-111.
Silvano captured his 15th straight win and improved to 17-2 with 10 knockouts, while Purisima dropped to 17-13-4 with five knockouts.
Silvano should earn a spot in the WBO light flyweight ratings, in which Donnie Nietes is the current titleholder.
Former world champion Marvin Sonsona (17-1-1, 14 KOs) shook off a long layoff with an impressive eighth round knockout over tough Jason Egera (21-9, 10 KOs).
The 23-year-old one-time WBO super flyweight king, who is coming off a hiatus for more than a year, battered Egera, which forced the referee to call it a night at the start of eighth.
WBO No. 13 ranked flyweight Vic Saludar (17-0, 11 KOs) also ended a long break with a unanimous verdict over journeyman Julius Alcos (21-13, 3 KOs). All three judges had identical scores of 100-90.
In the undercard, Jahleel Payao (6-0, 4 KOs) kept his unblemished record with a second round knockout over Roel Garcia (5-11-2, 1 KO); Jordan Catubay (5-1, 2 KOs) scored a unanimous decision against Junny Salogaol (4-5-4, 4 KOs); Keenan Villafor (3-0, 1 KO) beat Jaybie Haya (2- 1-1, 2 KOs) by unanimous decision; Salatiel Amit (2-0, 2 KOs) handed Jesse Saucusa (2-1, 1 KO) his first career loss with a second round knockout; Jilbert Gumera (2-0, 2 KOs) scored a quick first round stoppage over Mark Tubo (0-6); and Christian Araneta (1-0, 1 KO) had an impressive ring debut with a third round demolition of Gary Rojo (1-6).