By Rey Danseco
World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific flyweight champion Rexon Flores gave a boxing lesson to compatriot Cris Dujali, despite the fact that he fought with pain in his swollen right wrist for 10 rounds.
The bout was part of the Gerry Penalosa-Dario Azuaga undercard, taking place on Saturday night at Ynares Center in Antipolo City, Rizal.
Flores dominated the game Dujali, a number 5 ranked flyweight by the Philippine Boxing Federation, with his superior right straight, left-hook and one-two combinations through out the bout.
All three judges scored it 100-90 in favor of Flores, who sustained the hand injury when a punch landed to Dujali’s head in the third.
Flores’ cornerman Rolando Angel did not rule out the possibility that the 23-year old prospect might have broken his hand.
“Rexon's wrist and hand is badly swollen,” said Angel after the fight. “Tiniis lang talaga niya na isuntok at hindi nagpahatala sa kalaban.”
The result of the medical checkup of Flores’ hand wasn’t available as of press time. However, Angel said they advised Flores to stay away from hitting anything with his hand for 30 days.
Flores is a Philippine top prospect in 112-pound division along with former WBC International flyweight king Diosdado Gabi.
The 5-foot-4 Flores is currently ranked No. 4 in the world by the WBO. He improved his record to 15-2-4 win-loss-draw with 8 knockouts.
Other results, Baby Lorona Jr (38-20-5, 20 KOs) earned a unanimous decision win over Rodney “Jun” Alba (13-8-2, 3 KOs) in their give-and-take 10-round super featherweight bout. Judges saw it 97-94, 98-92 and 97-93 all in favor of Lorona.
Michael Farenas knocked out veteran Roberto Moreno (11-12-5, 2 KOs) in the second round to improve to 8-1-1, 7 KOs.
Drian Francisco (5-0, 2 KOs) remained unbeaten, earning a unanimous decision against Johary Rosia (2-1) in a battle of unbeaten flyweight over six rounds.
The 33-year old Paranaque-based Penalosa was literally slower, compared when he was younger, but showed he still has first class skills and fatal-power in both fists despite coming off in 13-month layoff and saw action for only third time since last year.
Peñalosa scored knockdowns in rounds eight and ninth - en route to earn another victory in a convincing fashion as judges Ricardo Canlas, Captain Ramon Flores and Salvador Lopez all scored 100-88 shutout unanimous decisions all in his favor, and sent Azuaga on a shameful loss in their 10-round bantamweight bout before a thin but thrilled crowd at Ynares Center.
Peñalosa repeatedly landed telling blows to the body and face from the opening round and a jarring left hand punch in the fourth rocked Azuaga, who found out that fighting close with the former WBC super flyweight champion at the first half of the fight was a mistake.
Azuaga started moving side-to-side and do his things outside in mid of the fight, hurt Peñalosa at one point for the only time with an overhand right.
“He hurt me once, a right hand. But I'm okay, it was just one lucky punch," said Peñalosa, who is rated No. 10 by the IBF and No. 9 by the Ring Magazine both in the super flyweight class.
Azuaga had a hard time to land any damaging punch. At the late moments in the eight, he gave on-fire-aggressor Peñalosa a reason to throw more combinations in his corner.
Azuaga almost went down as he was sent flying into the ropes near the neutral corner from a right upper that was followed by three punches from Penalosa.
The Filipino kept on throwing the leathers, chasing the in-trouble Azuaga and landed with left-right combos at the middle of the ring to send him crashed to the ropes again. That time he went down for the first time.
Azuaga tried to retaliate early in the ninth, only to pick himself up from the canvas when he caught with a well-timed right uppercut. The Paraguayan survived by running around the ring until the final bell of the 10th.
Peñalosa, wants a shot against IBF bantam champion Rafael Marquez of Mexico or IBF super fly king Luis Perez. He improved his record to 49-5-2 with 33 knockouts. Azuaga, the former WBO Latino bantam champ, dropped to 66-7-2, 57 KOs.
