By Rey Danseco
VETERAN fighter Celso Danggod claimed he was robbed of a victory while Fernando Montilla impressively defended his crown in the main event of “Fight for Love” card, Saturday night, in Manila.
The judges controversially awarded Barcelona a split decision win over 12 rounds against Danggod to keep his Philippine super flyweight title before a booing crowd at the New San Andres Sports and Civic Auditorium.
Neophyte judge Henry Verniz had it 115-111 and seasoned official Epi Almeda saw it 113-112, both in favor of Barcelona. Ricardo Canlas scored it 114-112 for Danggod.
Referee Virgilio Garcia deducted the taller Barcelona two points after clashes of heads produced cuts to Danggod’s right eyebrow and head in round 4 , and round 7 where the champion was first floored with left-right straight punch combination.
The third ranked challenger from Muntinlupa City continued to show incredible domination until the third man in the ring displayed a mistake in round 9.
Danggod’s left cross to the face let Barcelona’s left glove and knee touched the canvass, but Garcia refused to count and let the fight resume to dismay the television commentators North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol – who is the card's promoter and is the handler of Barcelona – and Recah Trinidad.
“Sometimes it (mistakes) happens in boxing,” said Piñol.
DANGGOD WANTS GAB TO INVESTIGATE
Dante Almario, who remains Danggods official manager despite accepting a high position in the World Boxing Empire (WBE) as Commissioner-Advisor, will file a protest today to the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) in his quest of investigation in the mockery.
"It was a crucial error on Garcia’s part when he snubbed the legitimate knockdown,” said Almario, who saw the fight on television.
Almario said, he wanted to know why the three judges have difference scores, particularly the allegedly questionable decisions of the 23-year old Verniz.
“Besides, Barcelona automatically lost at least four points total, two from knockdowns and one each from headbutting,” he said. “How come had he (Garcia) declared a knockdown in round 9, we surely won the fight.”
Former boxer and now boxing promoter-manager Ailjoe Jaro also believed Canlas’ decision was the most correct verdict.
“I scored the fight, Danggod easily won, 114-112 that’s why I was shocked when Barcelona declared the winner. He (Barcelona) failed to land a decent punches,’ said Jaro.
Montilla – a former spar mate of Manny Pacquiao -- knocked out the 5-foot-10 Dexter Delada with left straight punch early in the fourth round to keep his Philippine lightweight title for the third time.
Before that annihilation of the 2nd ranked challenger, Montilla punished the body of his fellow southpaw opponent from Camiguin province to score the first knockdown in the second round.
Delada managed to score his own knockdown in the third with straight punch.
