By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Former WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (35-2, 31 KO’s) who lost his title in a stunning first round TKO to Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez of Puerto Rica has returned to the ring with a vengeance.

The menacing-looking Mexican southpaw who demolished world-rated Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista in one round in a title defense on August 11, 2007 after earlier winning a lopsided twelve round decision over veteran WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa on March 17, 2007 was keen to recover from his loss to Lopez and put on a show.

Ponce De Leon achieved his goal with a fourth round knockout over 29 year old Argentine journeyman  Damian Marchiano (15-6-1, 5 KO’s) in a fight card at the Gimnasio Manuel Bernard Aguirre in Chihuahua, Mexico on Sunday, Manila Time.

The end came at 1:41 of the fourth round.

Marchiano was coming off back-to-back losses this year. He lost by a 5th round TKO to South Africa’s Silence Mabuza last May 31 and then lost a shutout ten round decision to Bernard Dunne on July 12.

Penalosa has indicated interest in a rematch with Ponce De Leon but chances are Penalosa will be matched against Lopez whom he has also called out,  sometime early next year.