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Mabao loses OPBF title fight


PhilBoxing.com


Donny Mabao fought gallantly and showed heart in his attempt to unseat OPBF light-flyweight champion Ryo Miyazaki of Japan. But Mabao, whose name means shallow in his hometown in Cagayan de Oro, failed to fathom the deep tricks, including the dirty, of the defending champion who was clearly bigger, stronger and comfortable in his weight division. While Miyazaki was a half pound lighter than Mabao at yesterday's weigh-in, he looked kilograms heavier at fight time.

Mabao had the last punch of the fight which sent the black mouthpiece of the defending champion to canvas. The scores were unanimous: 118-110, 117-111 and 119-110 all in favor of the defending champion.

In the immediate supporting 10-rounder, I suspected the fighter in the blue corner to be either Filipino or Thai. Before the start of the fight, I noticed the fighter's chief second looking at me smiling. I smiled back but I was not sure if he was sending me a message. The brown skinned and black haired fighter, whose face resembled Shane Mosley's, fought toe to toe with his Japanese opponent. That showing was unShane Mosley like.

In the middle rounds, I heard his Japanese handlers, who have been shouting instructions in Japanese, suddenly chorused "boo-dega, boo-dega, boo-dega" as the fighter was aiming his punches to the midsection. The "bodega" confirmed that the fighter was Filipino. He stood his ground, albeit fighting with blooded nose from the 2nd round on, and the crowd clapped in appreciation to both fighters who gave them their money's worth.

I failed to ask for express confirmation if the courageous fighter, who lost the fight by a decision I couldn't figure out having been announced in Japanese, was indeed Filipino. Anyway, his looks and the "bodega" instruction from his corner are enough for me to believe he was.

Two brave Filipino fighters lost their respective fights today in Osaka, Japan. But the appreciation for their courage and determination to fight whoever is placed before them could not be denied them.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Epifanio M. Almeda.


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