Hugo Cazares, listen up.
World-ranked Bert Batawang of SGG Stable showed no mercy in stopping Pingping Tepura with a single right uppercut in the opening round of their scheduled tenner topbilling the big Sinulog card last Sunday at the Gaisano Countrymall carpark.
The taller Tepura tried to use his jab early, but Batawang wisely moved in to neutralize his taller foe's reach advantage, letting loose a big right uppercut that sent Tepura on his knees and out for the count at 2:48 of the first round.
Bert Batawang (center) delivers a crunching right uppercut to the chin of Pingping Tepura.
As Tepura goes down.
Referee Teddy Alivio waves his hand to end the contest after Tepura failed to beat the count.
All photos by Dong Secuya.
The win improved Batawang's record to 40 wins, 12 losses, 3 draws with 33 KO's, and more importantly, kept his hopes alive for a possible crack at WBO light-flyweight champ Hugo Cazares at the 'World Cup' set in July or August.
In the chief support, ex-RP flyweight champ Federico Catubay stopped Nelson Guindolan at the 2:12 of the fourth round following a barrage of punches that prompted Guindolan's corner to throw in the towel.
The win arranged a bout for Catubay for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight title on February 26 against Eric Barcelona in Cagayan De Oro City.
On the undercard, Rogen Flores stopped Allan Dugang at the 2:26 of the third; Nelson Llanos knocked out Rashid Bacus with a big right at 2:04 of the opening round; vastly-improved Ricky Sismundo of Harada Stable prevailed on a unanimous decision against Gil Melligen; Nic Banal stopped Ranie Pamatian at 2:03 of the second round; while Mark John Yap took a unanimous decision win over Daryl Amoncio.
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