By Rey Danseco

FILIPINO fighter Sylvester Lopez floored Korean champion Jong-Nam Park four times on route to a knockout win in the eight round at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City. Lopez claimed the vacant WBC International super flyweight title and became the first Filipino to own the belt in the last six years and third overall in history.

The 21-year old boxer of promoter Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr. dropped his five year senior opponent, who suffered his first loss, with a left hook to the face and the a left hand shot to the side of the body.

Park was pinned against the ropes and sent down once again after Lopez caught him with barrage of head and body shots. In the eight, a four punch combination that was punctuated with the most fatal left hook to the right breadbasket abruptly dropped Park on his knees and was in no condition to continue.

Veteran referee Bruce McTavish of New Zealand immediately sensed Park was in a lot o pain and could hardly breathe. He waved his hands over his head, stopping the fight at two minutes 16 seconds into round 8.

At the time of stoppage, Lopez was comfortably ahead on three judges’ scorecards. This writer, Rey Danseco saw it 69-61, lawyer Epi Almeda had it 68-62 while Korean Jae Bung Kim scored it 67-63 - all in favor of Lopez.

“This (championship) is for you, Filipinos and boxing fans,” said Lopez, who took his third straight knockout win and fourth in his last four fights since last year. He improved his overall record to 9-2-1 with 6 victories inside the distance in his two-year and six month pro-career.

Park (6-1-0, 5 KOs ) had the best moment in round 4 when he hurt Lopez with a straight right to the face. But he missed so many punches when Lopez effectively waved and ducked.

“I could see his punches [coming] even [when] we [were] so close, but I can't deny he hurt me with several punches, like his straights to the face,” said Lopez, whose jab and straights snapped backed Park’s head several times, especially in the 7th round where he staggered the foreigner with right-uppercut combo.

After his loss, Park and the rest of his team proceed to Ninoy Aquino International Airport for their 12:30 midnight flight going back to Seoul.

Malcolm Tunacao won the same vacant title in April 2003 with fifth round KO win over Indonesian Ringo Jaguar in Antipolo City, a highland local government near Manila.

Gerry Penalosa was the first Filipino to win the title in May 2000 when he annihilated Pone Saengmorakot of Thailand in six.

NOTE: IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, who has title defense on April 19 here in Manila against Raul Martinez, came with his lovely wife, the taekwondo champion Rachel Marcial-Donaire at the break before round 7. He was mobbed by fans for photo ops and autograph signings. The Donaires left immediately after Lopez’s sensational knockout win to go home and rest.