It was a bittersweet weekend for Philippine boxing when two Filipino boxers saw their respective world title campaigns end in contrasting manners.
In Singapore, Bicolano Michael Dasmari?as took home the International Boxing Organization (IBO) bantamweight belt when he stopped the highly-favored Karim Guerfi of France in the fourth round of their 12-round title bout Saturday night at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Despite an impressive ring record, Dasmari?as entered the ring a huge underdog owing to the French fighter?s lofty world ratings
Guerfi, 31, initially bamboozled Dasmarinas with stinging blows until the Filipino saw an opening in the fourth round where he unleashed a strong left hook to the Frenchman?s jaw.
The fight was immediately stopped as the blow sent Guerfi landing hard on canvass, forcing medics to rush inside the ring. Guerfi eventually recovered and walked out of the ring on his own.
With the victory, Dasmari?as improves his win-loss record to 28-2 with 19 knockouts while Guerfi fell to 26-4 (8 KOs).
Saturday night in Belfast, Ireland, Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire lost in his bid to claim the interim WBO world featherweight belt when bowed to local hero Carl Frampton during their 12-round battle.
All three judges had identical scores of 117-111 all for the 31-year-old Frampton who outboxed and outfoxed the older but game 35-year-old Donaire.
Despite being rocked by a powerful uppercut by Donaire in the 11th round, Frampton was able to recover from the blow by moving around the ring and throwing clear blows on the onrushing Filipino-American boxer.
?Nonito Donaire was dangerous from start to finish. I stuck to the game plan and at times my boxing was beautiful,? said Frampton.
Frampton upped his record to 25-1 with 14 stoppages while Donaire ends up with a 38-5 tally, 24 via the short route.
