AFTER a frustrating defeat in his hometown, Czar Amonsot returned to the ring with a bang and took the WBO Asia Pacific lightweight title via a hard-earned split decision victory over Korean lightweight champion Daun Chung in 12 rounds in Seoul, South Korea.
However, former Southeast Asian Games silver medalist and ALA boy Mark Jason Melliguen was not as lucky, as the Bacolod City-native suffered his first defeat, a shocking technical knockout loss to Korean junior welterweight champion Young Sung Kim for the WBO Asia-Pacific jr. welterweight title.
The fight was not easy for Amonsot, who needed to dig deep into his arsenal of punches before pulling the victory.
Amonsot, however, was in total control for most of the fight before the verdict was read.
Judge Salven Lagumbay scored the fight, 119-109, and referee/judge Bruce McTavish saw it, 115-113, both for Amonsot. The third judge, a Korean, had it 115-113 for Chung.
Amonsot, the former WBO Asia-Pacific super featherweight champion, was aggressive from the start, causing bleeding on the Korean?s nose in the opening round. The 5-foot-9 Chung?s left eye also started to swell after the second round.
According to a source, Amonsot can now rejoin the ALA Boys, as winning the WBO Asia-Pacific lightweight title was the condition for his re-entry.
The fight was Amonsot?s first since losing to Indonesian Simson Butar-Butar in 47 seconds of the first round in Tagbilaran City last Sept. 23.
The win also improved Amonsot?s ring record to 18-2-1, 10 KOs, while the 21-year-old Chung dropped to 8-2, 3KOs.
Meanwhile, Melliguen lost his steam in the fifth round and gave in to the body punches of Young for his first defeat in seven fights.
Melliguen was ahead using his superior boxing skills in the early rounds but suddenly lost his stamina in the fifth round. Young took advantage and hit the ALA fighter in the body.
Young dropped Melliguen three times in the canvas, forcing the referee to end the bout.
However, WBO Asia-Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo Jr., who was supervising the fight, promised to work on a rematch.
