LAS VEGAS–FILIPINO CHALLENGER RANDY Suico’s hopes of becoming a world champion were dashed Saturday (Sunday in Manila), losing via a ninth-round technical knockout to WBA lightweight champ Juan Diaz at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The Cebuano’s vaunted power was no match to Diaz’s superior technical skills as the methodical Mexican-American defended well and used a pricking jab to befuddle Suico.
Referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight in 2:06 of the ninth round, after the last of the Texan “Baby Bull’s” countless combinations to Suico’s head.
Diaz (30-0, 15 KOs), making his fifth title defense on the undercard of Shane Mosley’s rematch with Fernando Vargas, moved adeptly and distributed patient punishment in just his third fight since January 2005.
The Texas native had a nine-month layoff caused by injuries and business problems before his unanimous victory over Jose Miguel Cotto in April.
‘He was very strong’
“Suico was very tough,” Diaz said. “He came to take my title, and he was very strong. He came out punching from the opening bell.”
Suico (24-3) threw 840 punches but connected with just 15 percent, while Diaz landed 65 percent of his blows.
Suico absorbed plenty of punishment, but Diaz’s lack of devastating punching power allowed the Filipino fighter to hang around for most of nine rounds.
Suico was knocked out for the first time in his career, showing even less power than Diaz. He was a late replacement on the card for Lakva Sim, who was beaten by Diaz in July 2004 to claim the World Boxing Association title.
The 26-year-old Suico, who was never in real trouble up to the stoppage, got a warning from Cortez in the fifth round for not increasing his punch output.
The Filipino’s trainer, Juanito Ablaca, and manager, Joe Koizumi, assured Cortez that their ward was fine, and that Suico would continue fighting.With reports from The Associated Presse and Salven L. Lagumbay, contributor
