By Rey Danseco
WORLD title prospect Rolly “Matsushita” Lunas made the most impressive defense of his OPBF bantamweight title.
The 24-year old native of Albay floored Indonesian bantamweight champion Aldo Hummer en route to score a devastating first round knockout in the main event of a card Sunday at Ishikawa Sangyo Hall in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
“I sent him down twice. He was dead on the floor after the second knock down,” said Lunas, who made his third consecutive title defense but most impressive since taking the crown last year.
Lunas, who has full backing from Matsushita Company of Japan, improved his record to 24-6-1 with 14 knockouts. He also retained the belt with technical knockout wins against Thai challenger Samingnum Wor Wiwatananon (TKO 11) last April and Japanese national champion Masayuki Mitani (TKO 12) last August.
Previously trained in Mandaluyong City, Lunas gave appreciate the support of Filipinos at ringside, including his benefactors Jay San Pedro of Mandaluyong City and Rex “Wakee” Salud of Cebu City – who both flew from Manila Saturday night.
“Thank you very much, I hope you keep on supporting me,” Lunas told this writer in an interview after the fourth straight win, inclding when he captured the crown from fellow Filipino Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tunacao in January last year in Tokyo with technical decision win in the 10th round.
On the underacard, veteran fighter Joel Consulta, another native of Albay and Lunas stablemate in Kanazawa, completed the double-celebration for the Philippines.
Consulta, a southpaw, stopped Thongchai Por Pratompong of Thailand in the fifth of scheduled 10-rounder.
