Bangoyan Decisions Otieno, Otieno Stops Rexon Flores
By Rey Danseco
DAVAO CITY – Balweg Bangoyan has accomplished his mission of getting Manny Pacquiao’s once owned World Boxing Council (WBC) International super bantamweight title.
Bangoyan earned a technical decision win at 1:32 of round 5 against defending champion Sande Otieno of Kenya at Rizal Memorial College Gym, a venue where Pacquiaio also scored a devastating victory in his career.
Leading on points of the three judges, the victory was awarded to former street fighter in Jose Abad Santos in Davao del Sur after ring physician Dr. Edgar Tan advised referee Bruce McTavish to stop the contest due to the bad cut on Bangoyan’s left eyebrow. The cut needed three stitches to close.
At the time of stoppage, judges Alberto Dulalas, Silvestre Abainza and Virgilio Garcia scored the fight with identical 48-45 all in favor of Bangoyan.
“It was a hard fight, he’s experienced but it’s okay, I got him,” said Bangoyan, who also stole the chance from Otieno of taking a title shot in WBC super bantamweight title.
Otieno accepted the verdict, knowing he was clobbered and knocked down in the first round and deducted a point in the next round due to that cut on Bangoyan’s left eyebrow from accidental headbutt in the second round.
“The decision is final. So, we are now demanding a rematch,” said Otieno, who suffered his first defeat in 17 starts.
Bangoyan’s manager and promoter of the event, Mayor Alex Wangkay, who’s known as the professional singer during ‘80s Zander Khan, agreed in principle on Otieno’s offer.
“My boy seems like a different fighter in the ring tonight, he can’t maneuver his moves the way he did like when he knocked out Phil Angcamor in round 2 in Cebu City last July,” said Wangkay, who got supports from fellow public officials in Mindanao and Indonesian consul general Lalu in his bid to develop pro-boxing industry in the country.
The exciting bout will be telecast on tape today by Elorde Boxing Tour, from 3 to 4 pm over NBN Channel 4 (with live webcast at www.hayag.com) . It was supposedly aired yesterday at the same time, but the tape was sent to the station late due to technical problems in editing and an hour delayed flight from Davao to Manila.
Pacquiao held the title when he was 21-year old like Bangoyan in December 1999. He beat countryman Reynante Jamili and defended the title five times until he took the IBF super bantamweight title in June 2001.
Bangoyan scored the only knockdown in the fight with right straight to jaw in the first round. But he failed to finish the issue and got beaten in round 2 when Otieno used his experience by boxing him.
Otieno was deducted a point in that round when an accidental clash of heads produced a cut over Bangoyan’s left eyelid.
In the same card, former world title challenger and WBO #13 light flyweight Rexon Flores was dropped twice and then lost to Nick Otieno by KO when he failed to beat the count at 1:59 of round 8 of their non-title fight.
A left-right combination finished Flores, who tried to get on his feet but went down again.