by Ronnie Nathanielsz
While Filipino fighters usually dominate the lighter weights with Manny Pacquiao being the biggest of them all at welterweight, promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde believes he has a future middleweight prospect in Marlon Alta.
The last time the Philippines crowned a world middleweight champion was when Ceferino Garcia, known for the original bolo punch won the title with a 7th round knockout of Fred Apostoli at Madison Square Garden on October 2, 1939, dropping Apostoli three times in the round.
Although the battle for the vacant WBC Youth Intercontinental title fight at the Flash Grand Ballroom in Sucat, Paranaque on Saturday lasted just two rounds it was loaded with action as Alta ripped the big Samoan-born Faumuina with vicious body shots that forced him to quit seated on his stool at the end of the second round.
International referee Bruce McTavish, himself a New Zealander who has lived in the Philippines for some 40 years told the Manila Standard it was a terrific fight while it lasted.
When Faumuina told the ringside physician that he couldn’t continue McTavish declared the 22 year old Alta the winner by a 2nd round TKO.
Alta won the Philippine middleweight title with a 12th round TKO over Benedict Fontines on June 18, 2011 and successfully defended the title with a twelve round unanimous decision over veteran Dondon Lapuz on September 17, 2011.
