By Ronnie Nathanielsz
World Boxing Organization Oriental bantamweight champion Michael Domingo overpowered former world champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin in a rough battle where the Thai used his elbows and occasional headbutts to upset Domingo but didn't succeed as the Filipino kept his composure except for one instance and went on to score a well-deserved ninth round TKO.
Domingo whose handlers led by young Michael Aldeguer of the famed ALA Gym promised to give their fighter a US stint and a possible world title shot down the road were upset by the miserable failure of referee eddy Alivio to deduct a point from Vorapinn for his tactics and merely kept warning him several times.
Domingo was cut on the left eye by a clear headbutt in round five after he had decked the Thai challenger at the bell in round four with a solid right hand. Vorapin had been cut earlier in the round by a cracking right from Domingo.