By Rey Danseco
PHILIPPINE bantamweight champion Michael Domingo beat former Philippine Boxing Federation super flyweight champion Edgar Gabejan by way of a close majority decision over 12 rounds on Friday night at Talisay Sports Complex in Cebu.
Two judges scored the fight with identical 115-113 numbers for Domingo. The third official saw 114-114 even.
It was the 27-year-old champion’s fourth defense of the 118-lb title since he dethroned Valenzuela City’s Joel Bauya with a 9th round technical decision win in July of last year in San Andres, Manila.
The pride of Lebac town in Sultan Kudarat previous defended the national title against former Pan Asian Boxing Association champion Rolly Lunas last year, one-time World Boxing Council International bantamweight champion Roger Galicia in February, and the former owner of his title Johnny Lear in July.
Domingo improved to 30-15-3 win-loss-draw records with14 knockouts. Gabejan, who hails from Biliran but based in Baguio City, dropped his stock to 13-12, 4 KOs.
On the undercard, world rated Bert Batawang knocked out Rey Orais with a single right-hand punch at 1:14 mark of the opening round of their non-title fight.
Orais lost his consciousness for more than 10 minutes until ring doctors Jose Unabia and May Derecho revived him.
Mark Jason Melligen (6-0, 5 KOs), a former Philippine national amateur boxer, visited the canvas in the opening round for the first time in his young career before making a strong comeback when he stopped veteran Rex Marzan at 1:36 of round 2 of scheduled 8-rounder.
Super flyweight Rocky Fuentes also stopped 32-year old Rolly Mandahinog at 0:43 of round 2.
Other results: super bantamweight Reman Salim won by technical decision in round 6 over Rico Genon; Rogen Flores TKOed Roel Honor 39 second in round 1; minimumweight Rashid Bacus dominated Jerry Manganip in 8 rounds; and Marjo Borres earned a unanimous decision over 6 rounds against Ranie Pamatian.
