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DOMINGO CRIPPLES MELENDEZ WITH A BRUTAL BODY SHOT, WINS BY 2ND ROUND KO (WITH PHOTOS) By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Mon, 24 May 2010  Michael Domingo, one of the most underrated fighters in the country, moved closer to his dream of fighting for the world bantamweight title with a spectacular 2nd round knockout over menacing-looking Luis Melendez of Colombia before a crowd of ecstatic Filipino fight fans at the plush Pacific Ballroom of the Waterfront Hotel and Casino Sunday night. Nicknamed ?Bruce Lee?, Domingo crippled Melendez with a brutal shot to the liver and then watched as the Colombian went down grimacing in pain and was counted out by American referee Gene del Bianco at 1:39 of the second round. Domingo immediately went over towards the special ringside area where his bosom friend Z ?The Dream? Gorres was seated along with his wife Datches and leaned over the ropes to tell Gorres ?mission accomplished.? Domingo had wanted to help assuage the feelings of Gorres who routed Melendez in their ten round bout at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel House of Blues last November but collapsed in his corner after the decision was announced and underwent emergency brain surgery at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas that ended his career on the threshold of a world title fight against WBO champion Fernando Montiel. Gorres who is well on the way to making a near miraculous victory had cautioned Domingo not to get careless because Melendez had power especially in his left hook. Heeding Gorres? advice Domingo watched Melendez every step of the way in a feeling out opening round. Top photo: Michael Domingo (R) puts on the pressure to the slow-starting Luis Melendez of Columbia during their fight Sunday night at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. 
Domingo Gene del Bianco raises in hand of Michael Domingo after the knockout victory by the Sultan Kudarat native. 
Z Gorres is being lead to his seat inside the Pacific Ballroom Arena of the Waterfront Hotel just before the start of the Domingo-Melendez bout. 
Jimrex Jaca (R) goes to a neutral corner after sending James Kimori of Kenya to the canvas. 
Jason Pagara (R) sends Romeo Jakosalem crushing to the canvas during a first round action. 
James Bacon throws a right against Cirilo Espino. Photos by Dong Secuya. Domingo threw a series of rapid-fire punches to the head forcing the southpaw to resort to keeping his hands up high to protect his head which was the game-plan of Domingo who began to rip vicious left hooks and rights to the body of Melendez. One devastating punch to the ribs in the opening round hurt Melendez whose corner felt he had a fractured rib. Midway through the second round Domingo connected with a deadly left hook to the liver that saw Melendez stumble to the canvas after a slightly delayed reaction to be counted out. The punch reminded us of the vicious left hook to the liver by two-division world champion Gerry Penalosa who won the WBO bantamweight title with a similar punch against Mexico?s Jhonny Gonzalez in the Philippines-Mexico ?World Cup of Boxing? in August 2007 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento California. Interviewed by popular reporter Dyan Castillejo of the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN which telecast the fights over Channel 2, Domingo said ?I knew he was strong but I wanted to knock him out. I was surprised because he had rippling muscles and I thought he had a solid body but he was not so strong.? Domingo revealed that his stint as a sparring partner of former WBC world bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo prior to Hasegawa?s title defense against WBO champion Fernando Montiel who scored a stunning 4th round TKO was ?a big help because Hasegawa was strong and experienced.? To the cheers of the crowd Domingo greeted Gorres in Cebuano as the stylish southpaw smiled and waved and then told him ?mission accomplished.? It was also a successful mission for come-backing lightweight Jimrex Jaca who scored a rousing 4th round TKO victory over rough and rugged Kenyan James Kimori. The African fighter who had promised to entertain the fans and after five rounds explode and knockout Jaca or get knocked out himself didn?t last that long. Jaca who told us at the pre-fight press conference that he wondered whether Kimori could last five rounds began the ten round battle with obviously bad intentions staggering Kimori with a right hook early in the opening round. Jaca staggered him again with another solid punch in the dying seconds of the round with the bell saving the Kenyan from further punishment. Jaca went after Kimori and dropped him in round two and continued to hurt the Kenyan fighter as Kimori sought to turn the fight into a waterfront brawl. A cut was opened up above Kimori?s right eye because of an accidental clash of heads even as Jaca cracked the Kenyan with another ripping left hook ending round three. It was only a matter of time before Jaca would seal the deal as the southpaw who is committed to making a comeback and once again earning himself a chance to fight in the US dropped Kimori with another devastating shot to win by a TKO at 1:13 of the fourth round. In a post fight interview Jaca referred to Kimori?s boast that he would explode after five rounds and hopefully take Jaca out saying ? he doesn?t know Jimrex Jaca. If I can take the best shots of Juan Manuel Marquez, I can take him.? With his former manager Rex ?Wakee? Salud watching from a front row seat Jaca who now trains at the ALA Gym said sparring with youngsters Jason Pagara and James Bacon was terrific and that they often had to be cautioned to take it easy because it was not a fight. Pagara and Bacon clearly benefited from the sparring as Pagara put on an awesome display to win by a 2nd round TKO over Romeo Jakosalem with referee Ben Necessario calling a halt at 2:57 of the second round, a few seconds after he first appeared to want to stop it as Jakosalem was taking a bad beating. Pagara dropped Jakosalem with a perfectly timed counter left hook in round one and in round two pinned the former ALA boy against the ropes and pounded him with a barrage of shots before the referee eventually decided to wave it off. Pagara said ?after the first knockdown I knew I would knock him out. My left is really good.? With the impressive win Pagara improved to 22-1 with 11 knockouts and looms as a real prospect down the road being only 18 years old. James Bacon hurt the stocky Cerillo ?Body Snatcher? Espino with a stinging right straight in the second round and then sent him to the canvas with a low blow which saw Espino writhing in pain and spitting out his mouth-guard as though to say he couldn?t continue. Given time to recover according to the rules Espino appeared to get worse as the minutes ticked by in what appeared to be an acting job. Unable to rise when time expired Espino who was carried out of the ring on a stretcher lost by TKO at 1:40 of the third round. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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