You can run, but you can’t hide. Reigning Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super-featherweight king and World Boxing Council no. 2 Randy “Komong Bato” Suico solidified his reputation as the country’s hardest-punching fighter as he stopped Indon challenger Ibrahim Aroby with a single right straight to the jaw at the 1:04 mark of the eighth round of their scheduled 12-rounder here. Aroby fell like a fallen log at the impact of the shot, prompting Japanese referee Kazumasa Kuwata to stop the bout. Suico started strong in the get-go, knocking down Aroby with a left-right combination to the face near the end of the second round. Aroby, who came into the fight thinking he was Nicaraguan star Ricardo Mayorga, barely survived this round. In the third, Aroby got tagged again and went down on his knees, but the referee did not toll the count. The crowd would cheer every time Suico pins Aroby to the ropes. Aroby regained his composure in the fourth, using powder-puff punches to frustrate the local hero. A right by Aroby near the end of the round found its mark on Suico’s chin. Through rounds fifth to seventh, Suico continued stalking Aroby, as the Mandaue-raised fighter was desperately looking for the knockout he had promised fight fans. Aroby would charge back with his light-punching, but Suico’s left jab effective kept him at bay. Suico, who improved to 22-1, 19 KO’s, was comfortably leading in all three judges’ scorecards before the win. Scoring referee Kazumasa Kuwata saw it 70-68, Teddy Alivio of the Philippines had it 68-64, while Indonesia’s Machmud Junus penned it 67-65. In the undercard, Dexter Delada of Wakee Salud Stable arranges a December 4 showdown with RP super-featherweight champ Bobby Pacquiao after he knocked out Al Deliguer in the fifth round of a highly-entertaining fight. The upset axe fell on ex-PABA flyweight champ Rolly Lunas as he succumbed to a majority decision loss at the hands of RP no. 1 superbantam Jake Verano. Also, Gilbert De la Torre prevailed on a split decision over Ricardo Albia; Ayon Naranjo decisioned Roland Econas; JR Sollano stopped Muhammad Nazib in the first round; Gabriel Pumar bombed out Wine Bartiquel in the fourth; while Alex Aroy halted Rex Madrid in the second.
