By Rey Danseco
FORMER Philippine flyweight champion Edgar Rodrigo has continued showing his punching power, knocking out former world title challenger Roy Doliguez late in 8th round, Sunday night at Seiz de Junio Village in Tagaytay City.
Rodrigo, 25, picked himself up from the canvas in the first round, scored his own knockdown in the next round with hard combinations to the body and finally stopped Doliguez late in round 8.
“Nasa kondisyon ako sa laban bukod sa mas malalakas at mas magaganda ang pili ng target kong patatamaan sa katawan at ulo niya,” Rodrigo said.
Rodrigo is the only fighter to beat world rated Z Gorres with a convincing 9th round knockout to capture the Philippine flyweight title at Makati Coliseum in June 2003.
In that fight, Gorres, then undefeated in 13 starts, was down in 6th, 8th and 9th rounds - forcing the referee to stop the bout at 1:00.
Rodrigo relinquished his RP title in favor of getting a crack at the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation flyweight title bout in his next fight, in Japan, where in he lost by way of a technical decision in round 8 to defending champ Noriyuki Komatsu.
With his latest victory, the Manila-based Rodrigo improved to 11-6-3, 6 KOs.
In the main event, reigning Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) junior welterweight champion Arniel Tinampay (9-2-1, 2 KOs) retained his title with a unanimous decision win over top ranked Jury Noda in a rematch.
The judges scored the bout 96-94, 99-91 and 98-94, all in favor of Tinampay, who previously defeated Noda with the same verdict but was more convincing fashion as the scorecards read 100-90 twice and 100-92 for the same PBF belt, at Lamberto Macias Sports Complex in Dumaguete City.
Rodrigo protested the knockdown called by referee Eddie Nobleza as it was caused by an accidental clashed of heads in the fast-paced opening round being controlled by Doliguez.
Doliguez was a former WBO Super Flyweight title challenger to Fernando Montiel three years ago.