Philippines, 11 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


BRUNO ESCALANTE LOSES CLOSE DECISION IN NABF TITLE FIGHT


PhilBoxing.com




International Boxing Association super flyweight champion Bruno Escalante from Cebu who has been fighting out of Redwood City, California lost a close if not questionable unanimous decision in a North American Boxing Federation title fight in ?The Return of the Champ? fight card at the Richard Borchard Regional Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall in Robstown, Texas over the weekend.

George Vondracek of the Corpus Christi ?Caller Times? reported that Kingsville?s undefeated Oscar Cantu was ?battered, cut and bloody? but outlasted Escalante over ten rounds on Sunday, Manila Time, bringing the NABF belt back to American soil for the first time since 2008.

Vondracek noted that the chiseled, 5?2? Escalante who was five inches shorter than Cantu ?appeared to wrest the upper hand in rounds three through eight, landing solid shots despite suffering the first cut of his career via a head-butt in the third round. The 5th and 7th rounds were particularly rough for Cantu, with Escalante peppering the gash above the right eye above and to the right of his right eye.?

In a post-fight interview Cantu who improved to 13-0 said ?I don?t back down from these fights. These fights make champions.?

He added ?I could pretty make fight through one eye pretty much. When I got that cut I couldn?t see through my right eye. That?s what champions do. I proved today, I am a champion.?

Cantu used his height and reach advantage and kept Escalante away with his jabs especially in the first two and the last two rounds and won a close verdict on the scorecards of all three judges.

Ruben Carrion and Don Griffin both scored the fight for Cantu 97-93 while the third judge Luis Escalona turned in a 96-94 card in favor of Cantu who said ?you know he (Escalante) is a veteran of the sport also. He knows how to get on the inside. He?s fast and that helps him out. A short little guy he can get down low. Hats off to him He came up with a good game plan.?

Escalante whose IBA title was not at stake, knew the odds were stacked against him if the fight went to the scorecards. He said, ?we knew we were going to fight in his hometown so we prepared ourselves. We aimed for a knockout to win the fight. It's his hometown. We cannot leave it to a decision. The score was exactly the same as we expected. If it went to the scorecards, they were going to give it to him.?

Photo: Bruno Escalante (R) in action against Nestor Ramos at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA on Oct. 17, 2015.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 MARCH 2026: Opetaia Outpoints Glanton to Win Inaugural Zuffa Belt; Ricardo Salas, Vlad Panin Register Wins
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Brijhana Epperson and Christian Paez Highlight Day Two of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Beltran, Prado rule Samal Half Marathon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Meinke-Vargas IBF Featherweight Female World Championship Set for 12 rounds?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Ruiz and Veloz Earn Dominant Wins on Opening Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Top Rank Signs Undefeated Lightweight Prospect Sammy Contreras
    , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • 153 swimmers safely complete Davao-Samal-Davao Cross Channel
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 10 Mar 2026
  • Leading World Cruiserweight Contender Ryan ‘The Bruiser’ Rozicki returns from 15-month layoff with another overpowering KO
    , Mon, 09 Mar 2026
  • Roca, Bernardino share top honors in Tea Block rapid chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Fastpitch Softball on March 20-22 in Calinan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Opetaia vs Glanton: Dana White Crowns First Boxing Champion. Is Fight Worthy?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • In Thrilling Showdown, Pagara Falls Short Against Polkinghorn by Points.
    , Sun, 08 Mar 2026
  • Unofficial Unification Tournament Brewing For Welterweights
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Fight Results from Montreal: Steven Butler Obliterates Ramadan Hiseni; Wins by Lenar Perez, Jhon Orobio and Steve Claggett
    By Eric Armit, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Former Champ Junior Makabu visits WBC offices in Mexico City
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • WEIGHTS FROM SYDNEY, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Weights from Atlantic City
    , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • PFL Releases Francis Ngannou
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 07 Mar 2026
  • All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
    , Fri, 06 Mar 2026
  • AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 06 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.