By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former world title challenger Antonio Pitalua of Colombia who fights out of Mexico has scored a confidence-boosting 5th round TKO in his second fight since returning to the ring after losing badly in his world title bid against Edwin Valero last April 14, 2009 in Austin, Texas when he suffered a 2nd round TKO.

In his second comeback fight Pitalua defeated veteran Wilfredo “Papin” Negron to win the vacant WBO Latin welterweight title in a fight card in Miami, Florida. He had earlier scored a 6th round, one-punch KO over Jose Reyes last August 14 also in Florida.

Pitalua, the 39 year old Colombian had earned the title shot against the undefeated Valero with a stunning 6th round knockout over fancied Jose Armando Sta Cruz on September 20, 2008.

Against the 35 year old Negron of Puerto Rico,  Pitalua was in command from the opening bell and forced referee Frank Santos Jr to call a halt at 2:09 of the fifth round.

With the win Pitalua moves to 48-4 with 42 knockouts while Negron drops to 26-13-1 with 19 knockouts.

Pitalua was originally scheduled to face former world super lightweight champion Diobelys Hurtado but Hurtado sustained a hip injury while doing roadwork in preparation for the fight and had to pull out, with Negron stepping in as replacement.

In a pre-fight press conference Pitalua who proudly displays his 11 regional belts in his Mexican home told boxing writer Santos Perez of the Miami Herald that he was “proud of all the belts . It reminds me of the many accomplishments in my career” even as he indicated that the “urge to capture a world title keeps me going.”

Pitalua who lost in his lightweight title bid to the hard-hitting KO artist Valero said his knockout victory over Reyes “proved to me that I still matter. Because of my age many people think I am done as a fighter but I still feel young and the knockout has given me extra motivation to win a world title.