FERNANDO Montilla showed he has strong will as well as power in keeping his RP 135 pound title, knocking out Cebuano Dexter Delada in the fourth round of the “Fight For Love” main event at New San Andres Sports and Civic Center Saturday night.
Montilla used sheer power and a lot of determination to stay in the give-and-take war to beat the taller and hammer-fisted Delada.
After scoring two knockdowns in the second round, Montilla found himself in the same situation in the third when Delada delivered a left that put him down and in deep trouble. However, he managed to stay on his feet despite the barrage of punches dropped by Delada, to finish the fight.
Furious
The fight was furious as early as the opening bell with Montilla connecting a right uppercut to send Delada on his seat.
After the mandatory count, Montilla tried a flurry of body punches and the Cebu-based fighter hit the canvas for the second time. However, the bell saved Delada from early defeat.
Delada tried to finish the champion in the fourth, but Montilla connected a right, sending him down to the canvas for the third time. After Delada got up, Montilla made sure that the youthful opponent could continue no more as he hit a wicked left to the jaw to send Delada face down the canvas forcing referee Bruce McTavish to end the fight.
Meanwhile, Eric Barcelona barely kept his RP Super-flyweight belt following a split decision over the tough Celso Danggod in the other championship bout.
With his edge in skills and talent over Danggod, Barcelona controlled the fight’s momentum through the fifth round, before he got a point deducted on the sixth for an accidental head butt that opened a cut on Danggod’s head.
Danggod came rushing on the seventh and caught Barcelona with three punches on the head and face followed with a right straight, downing the champion. However, Barcelona kept his poise and went to finish the fight.
After the heated 12 rounds, judges Epe Almeda and Henry Verniz scored 113-112 and 115-11 respectively for Barcelona while Ricardo Canlas had it 114-112 for Danggod.
