By Ronnie Nathanielsz
JR Sollano, a promising young super featherweight managed by well-known promoter and boxing manager Rex “Wakee” Salud has scored a stunning second round TKO over highly fancied Japanese Tomoya Matsuda at the Tateyama Town Hall in Toyama, Japan.
It was the second successive big win by a fighter managed by Salud, a close friend and confidant of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao. Last Friday undefeated Gabriel Pumar of Lapu Lapu City scored a spectacular eighth round victory to win the WBC Internaional straweight title from South African Tshepo Lefele in Johannesburg.
The end came at 2:58 of the second round. Salud said the 5’7 Sollano was “strong but very young.” In his last fight against former world title challenger Mzonke Fana of South Africa who scored a controversial decision over Randy Suico but was knocked out by Marco Antonio Barrera in the second round of their world title fight, Sollano lost by a fourth round KO.
The 31 year old Matsuda was coming off two losses, both by decision.
In another bout comparatively unknown super bantamweight Roland Estancia lost by a first round knockout to Futa Nakagishi with the Filipino counted out at 2:31 of the opening round. Last December 18 Estancia also suffered a seventh round knockout in a PBF title fight against Cris Besmanus.
In the main event Philippine welterweight champion Dondon Sultan scored a majority ten round decision over 34 year old Japanese Ryuichi Kuwana and is back in contention for an OPBF title shot.
