“Sayang dSource! (Too bad dSource),” Filipino boxing legend turned boxing promoter Gerry Pe?alosa told me regarding his ward Michael Farenas’ (34-3-4-1NC, 26 KOs) title bid in Japan against WBA super featherweight champion Takashi Uchiyama (18-0-1, 14 KOs), which ended in a technical draw.
“Bihira lang ang break. Ang ganda ng condition ni Mike (Farenas) at ang ganda ng performance ng pinakita nya. Lamang na lamang siya sa points. Gusto ni mike sana ng rematch (Opportunities like this don’t come often. Mike was in great shape, and performed really well. He was way up in points. He would like to get a rematch),” Pe?alosa added.
The undefeated Japanese slugger managed to escape with his belt by virtue of the technical draw ruling caused by the wide and deep laceration the champion sustained from an accidental head-butt in the third round. But contrary to Pe?alosa’s assessment, two of the three judges ringside scored the fight in favor of Uchiyama, with the third judge penciling a draw. Pe?alosa did believe that Farenas would ultimately punish and stop the Japanese in the later rounds.
The clash of styles and stances proved to be the undoing of the match, as the southpaw Farenas and the orthodox Uchiyama simply could not avoid the clashing of heads. It was unfortunate as the match was just beginning to heat up, and Farenas definitely proving to be a handful for Uchiyama. Farenas is deserving of a rematch, but getting one should prove to be daunting as the Japanese has set his eyes on his mandatory or possibly a title unification bout.
