Sloppy in the earlier rounds, Alex Escaner regained his killer’s instinct just in time to survive a very game Jake Verano, retaining his Philippine super bantamweight crown via a controversial majority draw late Sunday night in the Fiesta Fistiana “Rumble at the Bay” boxing.
A big crowd estimated at around 6,000, however, expressed displeasure at the result of the match, with most of them trooping to the the Rajah Sulaiman Park in Malate, Manila to root for Verano, the challenger whose camp is now said to be planning to file a protest before the Games and Amusement Board (GAB).
Except in the latter rounds, the 33-year-old Escaner failed to show his best side as Verano pounced on his weaknesses with a flurry of hard body shots and good combinations in the early goings of the main bout of the Fiesta Fistiana, organized by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) in cooperation with the GAB and sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and the Philippine Sports Commission. Philippine Airlines, Caltex Philippines, SM and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office also backed the event.
Although bloodied, Escaner fought on and found Verano’s weak middle area as easy to explore on in the last three rounds. He earned a majority draw to Verano’s consternation.
“Hindi ko din akalain na makakalusot pa ako,” Escaner, who now compiles a decent 25-12-6 card, said as the mammoth crowd in the venue jeered at the judges in protest. “Desisyon na ng mga judges yan, pabayaan na lang natin sila. Malakas ang kalaban ko at hindi na ako makasuntok nung huli dahil mabigat na ang katawan ko. Mabuti na lang at nakuha ko pa ang panalong ito.”
Sources from Verano’s camp at the Leonil Lazarito Stable, however, revealed a rematch is in the offing, making the newly-revived slugfest as exciting as ever before.
Actually, in one of the last times the Fiesta Fistiana was held in 1999, the then-comebacking Manny Pacquiao won the WBC international super bantamweight title over Reynante Jamili.
GAB boxing division official Antonio Comia said there will be a 90-day period for Verano to seek a possible rematch.
“Kahit saan nakahanda akong harapin ulit siya,” Escaner of Marty Elorde Stable said.
The very promising Denver Cuello also made heads turn in this event that aims to support the country’s destitute and disabled boxers when he stopped Carlo Besares in the first round of their straw-weight title bout while Gerry Pe?alosa’s ward, Michael Farenas, needed two rounds to destroy Jeffrey Onate in the featherweight class.
The country’s No. 4 super bantamweight challenger, Jun Talape, meanwhile, maintained his deadly stance from start to finish as he escaped the flamboyant Johnny Lear via a majority decision in the bantamweight category.
In the women’s division, Gretchen Abaniel of Pasig City stopped Baina Londo of Sampaloc, Manila in the first round of their 105-lb match while Jeramie Tabas-Tabas of Pasig City scored a majority decision over Jujeath Nagawa of Baguio City in the 112-lb category.
The curtain-raisers were also as exciting as the other bouts as Jason Perater of Mandaluyong City defeated Ruel Cuizon of Binangonan, Rizal via a unanimous decision in their 128-lb match while Jurland Ceniza of Cagayan de Oro escaped Francis Borreros of Sampaloc, Manila via split decision in their 135-lb match.
