Ba-at retains crown; Mandahinog cops jr bantam title

DIGOS City ? Knockout artist Jonathan Ba-at retained

his Mindanao Professional Boxing Association

(Minproba) bantamweight crown in his first

title-defense, while Rolly Mandahinog captured the

vacant junior bantamweight title Friday night at the

Rizal Park here.

The stocky Ba-at of the Vic J. Adriano Stable from

Davao City suffered a four-inch nasty cut on his left

eyebrow due to an accidental head butt in the seventh

round forcing GAB physician Dr. Clemente Carlos III to

stop the 10-round title-fight.

Games and Amusements Board officer-in-charge Jimmy

Mata declared Ba-at as the winner via a technical

decision for leading on the judges? scores. All three

judges scored 69-64 in favor of Ba-at, who got his

first cut on his right eye also by a head butt in the

fifth round.

Mandahinog of the Jun M. Almario Stable from Tagum

City dominated the 10-round fight to score a unanimous

decision win against Leo Escobido of the Bernard Yu

Stable of Butuan.

Mayor Arsenio ?Boy? Latasa, who presented the double

championships, awarded the gold belts to the winners.

In the undercard, Bonn Corales of VJA Stable stopped

Juaren Lebres of Bislig in 2:15 of the first round;

Ardin Diale of Digos City beat Wilfredo Dulay of

Bislig by unanimous decision; and Rocky Gabaes of

Kidapawan outclassed Marvin Paluga of Tagum also by

unanimous decision.

Mayor Latasa as part of the 6th Araw ng Digos City

celebration presented the boxing card free to the

public.