I HAVEN?T seen Jason Canoy nor his foe Jestoni Autida fight before, so I just cheered for local boy Canoy, of the revamped IPI boxing stable, during Saturday night?s Uptown Rumble. Canoy, the veteran of 32 fights, compared to the 13 of Autida, vowed a knockout win and it seemed he was headed that way.
In the second, he sent Autida to the canvas with a solid uppercut but something changed in the visiting boxer and I became an instant fan. He got to to his knees quickly; waiting for a few moments before beating the ref?s count. And instead of backing away as some normally would do, Autida introduced his jab to Canoy, who would spend the next eight rounds wondering what he had to do to knock the game Autida out.
Cut in his left eye, Autida got into the match again in the third, hitting Canoy at will and opening a gash on his right. In the succeeding rounds, when it seemed Canoy had Autida?s number, the visiting boxer always found a way to fight back, never quitting, never letting go. Such was the action in the main event of Uptown Rumble that at one point during the end of a contested round, Canoy kept his head down and gave Autida a tap or two, as if saying, ?What do I have to do to knock you out??
The fight was close and I thought Autida might have gotten away with a close decision but I told myself I wouldn?t be surprised if Canoy, who came to life in the final round, would win.
When ring announcer Rico Navarro read the first decision, 96-94, I thought that could go either way; but at 96-93, I thought, no way Autida can win by three and he seemed to have accepted his fate, too, as I detected a minute drop of his head as he looked down.
But when Rico read the score of the final judge, ?98-91,? there was that look of incredulity in the boxer?just like with some of the audience–and he looked straight at his corner. As expected, Jonathan and Dodie Penalosa?Autida?s handlers?booed the decision. And while they were brooding at one corner, I joined them and they were saying, ?96-94? was an acceptable decision but 98-91 was just too much.
He shared the same sentiments to promoter Chad Canares but thanked him for the chance for having his boxer in his card. They had to leave abruptly as they booked the cheapest tickets possible?a midnight flight?back to Manila.
But after last Saturday?s Uptown rumble, I wouldn?t mind seeing Autida again. That guy gave the crowd in One Mangoe quite a show.
