By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Philippine super featherweight Bart Abapo has lost a majority decision to tough Ethiopian lightweight John Shiffiraw at the Knox Netball Center at Ferntree Gully near Melbourne, Australia over the weekend, according to a report received by Viva Sports/Manila Standard from Australian journalist Graeme Mckinnon who played for the San Miguel football team in Manila in the 1980’s.
Mackinnon said Abapo was “not able to sustain his impressive first round start” in the six round encounter and lost by a majority decision. Two judges scored the fight for Shiffiraw 58-56 while the third judge had it a 58-58 draw. Abapo started well to win the opening round but came under what Mackinnon described as “sustained pressure from his opponent” who took the next three rounds. With his back to the wall Abapo “fought back with a courageous effort to win the fifth round” but according to Mackinnon “the effort took its toll on Abapo and he was unable to sustain his comeback in the final round.”
Shiffiraw did enough to blunt the attack of Abapo and then mounted a late surge of his own and the end of the round to win it. The 30 year old Shiffiraw who lives in Sydney improved his record to 6-2 with 4 knockouts while Abapo dropped to 9-3-2 with 5 KO’s. Abapo didn’t use the fact that he was down with a fever for two days after he arrived in Melbourne didn’t make any excuses but Mackinnon said “it was obvious to those who know Abapo’s style that he was not at the top of his form during the fight.”
Abapo who suffered a sixth round KO against WBO International champion Gairy St. Clair who was once considered as an opponent for Ring Magazine featherweight champion Manny Pacquiao on December 11 was coming off a second round knockout over Arnick Arabala last September 4 while Shiffiraw who lost a sixth round unanimous decision to St. Clair last January 23 was coming off a first round KO over Opeti Tagi last April 16.
