By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Veteran Tata Regatuna, the 36 year old welterweight from the Philippines collapsed in the ring in what Japanese matchmaker and journalist Joe Koizumi referred to as “a bizarre KO because of a delayed reaction as Regatuna barely withstood Japanese lefty
Takuji Matsuhashi’s furious attack.” Koizumi reported that Ragatuna had his back to the corner “turned around into the center of the ring and abruptly collapsed for the count,” in Tokyo over the weekend. There was no subsequent word on Regatuna's condition.
The knockout came at 2:14 of the very first round. It was the hard-punching, former amateur southpaw Matsuhashi’s sixth KO in six wins against only one defeat. Regatuna who is clearly regarded as over the hill and a fighter who should be retired by the Games and Amusements Board has a record of 20-27-1 with 15 KO’s. He was coming off another first round KO loss to Masato Arai last November 7. Regatuna has suffered a
series of knockouts in the past to Rev Santillan, Hwan Young Park of South Korea, Rey Pelonia to whom he lost twice by first and second round knockouts and Nobuhiro
Ishida among others.
In another setback to the Philippines, Sherwin Manatad who is reportedly ranked No. 7 in the super flyweight division was decked in the eighth round by a wicked
body shot from unbeaten prospect Nestor Rocha but survived to lose a lopsided ten round decision by scores of 100-91,99-92 and 100-91. Koizumi said “it
wasn’t an easy fight for Rocha despite the lopsided scores as he kept bleeding from the nostrils profusely from the fourth round and he had difficulty penetrating the Filipino’s very tight guard, though whipping him to the punch.” Rocha moved to 12-0 with 3
knockouts while Manatad who lost by a third round TKO to Thailand’s Devid Lookmanhandak last June 26, dropped to 11-14-4 with no KO’s to his name.
