By Rey Danseco
One of Manny Pacquiao’s former sparring partners named Arnel Porras is the latest Filipino with an international title belt.
Porras captured the vacant Australasian welterweight title, a regional diadem under the World Boxing Foundation (WBF), when he displayed a high-class of boxing to defeat local prospect Adrian Campbell on Friday night (Saturday in the Philippines) at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre in New South Wales, Australia.
The stylist Filipino was in control of the 10-round round championship fight with the all-Australian judges proclaiming the 5-foot-10 native of Kidapawan City winner in the three scorecards. Judge Anthony Shipley had it 98-93, Craig Waller scored it 98-92 and Bernie McMahon saw the fight 99-92 all in favor of the Filipino.
Australian boxing scribe Anton Sevsek told this writer after the bout that Porras had little trouble with Campbell’s aggressive-style.
Sevsek described Porras’s victory “a comfortable 10 round win”, which he added a different scenario that Filipino boxers are facing in his country.
“Filipinos don't often win in Australia, because in most cases they are simply overmatched to pad our boys' record,” said Sevsek.
Porras served as Pacquiao’s chief sparmate along with junior welter Christopher Saluday in 2004 for the boxing idol’s preparation against Thai banger Fashung 3K Battery, whom Pacquiao knocked out with left uppercut in the fourth round in Taguig City.
Porras’ impressive win was held in the undercard of the six-round demolition of Canada's Ian MacKillop over multi-world title contender and Australia’s veteran Shannan Taylor for International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization regional middleweight titles.
Taylor was the promoter of the card and served as trainer and second of the 5-11 Campbell, who took his second loss to a Filipino after losing to Australian boxers’ whipping kid, Jesar Ancajas of Davao City with 6-round majority decision in August last year.
Porras, stands 5-10, is described by veteran matchmaker Jimmy Narvaez “gutsy” and “thinking fighter”. With the win, he improved to 14-8-3 win-loss-draw records with four knockouts.
The Games and Amusement Board (GAB) ranked Porras No. 5 under super featherweight champion Jimrex Jaca.
Porras wins the fight despite weighing 142 pounds (64.36 kgs) compared to Campbell’s 144.5 lbs (65.52 kgs).
