| |
|
TUNACAO WINS ELIMINATOR IN JAPAN, EARNS WORLD TITLE SHOT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Sun, 23 Dec 2012

Former WBC flyweight champion Malcolm Tunacao has scored a smashing 7th round knockout over Mexico's Christian Esquivel in a title eliminator to earn a crack at World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Shinsuke Yamanaka.
The 30 year old Yamanaka won the vacant title when he stopped Esquivel in the 11th round and has successfuly defended the title against Vic Darchinyan of Australia and Tomas Rojas of Mexico.
The title eliminator was held in Kobe, Japan from where Tunacao has been fighting for the last several years.
The 35 year old Filipino southpaw dominated the fight against the 26 year old Esquivel and under the open scoring system of the WBC led 40-36 on the scorecards of all three judges after four rounds.
A vicious right hook going into the final minute of the seventh round dropped Esquivel with the referee not bothering to count as the Mexican remained motionless on the canvas for several minutes.
Esquivel was rushed to hospital for a mandatory post-fight checkup.
The official time was 2:10.
With the win Tunacao improved his record to 32-2-3 with 20 knockouts while Esquivel fell to 25-4 with 18 knockouts.
After avenging Manny Pacquiao's stunning loss to Medgoen Singsurat with a 1st round knockout in Thailand on May 19, 2000, Tunacao unexpectedly lost his title to Thailand's Pongsaklek Wonjongkam by a 1st round knockout in only his second title defense on March 2, 2001.
A former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation champion, Tunacao has waited patiently for more than a decade for another shot at a world title and a chance to become a two division world champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2) By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title , Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29 , Wed, 05 Nov 2025OLYMPIC MEDALIST YUBERJEN MARTINEZ INKS WITH ALL STAR BOXING , Wed, 05 Nov 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 November 2025: Mayer Outpoints Spencer to Unify 154 Belts; Buatsi's Controversial Win Over Parker; Pero Outpoints Thompson; Thrilla in Manila at 50 Results By Eric Armit, , Tue, 04 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 1) By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Tue, 04 Nov 2025MATCHROOM BOXING ANNOUNCES HISTORIC ‘LIVE FROM GHANA’ EVENT FOR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20 AS CRAIG RICHARDS AND DAN AZEEZ COLLIDE IN ACCRA – LIVE WORLDWIDE ON DAZN , Tue, 04 Nov 2025Bryce Mills Defeats James Bernadin By Unanimous Decision , Mon, 03 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Wembanyama Struggles as Suns Give Spurs First Loss 130-118 By Reylan Loberternos, , Mon, 03 Nov 2025Oklahoma City Thunder the only undefeated NBA Team By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 03 Nov 2025RP Blu Boys Close Out Strong with Unbeaten Record in Japan Tournament By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 03 Nov 2025Pero Outlasts Thompson in Orlando, Secures Unanimous Decision Victory , Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay Crowned Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Champion By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 03 Nov 2025Jonas Magpantay reaches Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Finals By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 02 Nov 2025Pistons defeated Mavericks in NBA Game 34 in Mexico By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 02 Nov 2025GM Antonio finishes 14th in World Senior Standard event By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 02 Nov 2025NONITO DONAIRE FIGHTS SEIYA TSUTSUMI FOR THE WBA BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE By Maloney L. Samaco, , Sun, 02 Nov 2025Luka Dončić Equals Wilt Chamberlain’s Historic Scoring Feat By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 02 Nov 2025THRILLA IN MANILA II RESULTS: JERUSALEM, TAPALES, MARCIAL LEAD WINNERS By Eric Armit, , Sun, 02 Nov 2025Last Pinoy Standing: Jonas Magpantay marches into semis in Qatar World Cup 10-Ball By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 02 Nov 2025WEIGHTS FROM NIGHT OF KNOCKOUTS XXXVII AT MOTORCITY CASINO HOTEL , Sat, 01 Nov 20253 Filipinos Reach Qatar World Cup 10-Ball Last 16, Biado Out By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025Joshua Buatsi vs Zack Parker Headlines Manchester Show on DAZN By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025NBA Referees will wear headsets during NBA games By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025PERO, THOMPSON READY FOR ORLANDO SHOWDOWN SATURDAY NIGHT By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 01 Nov 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|