By Ronnie Nathanielsz
The terrible mismatches featuring Filipino boxers in Thailand and Japan continue even as Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation president Frank Quill has condemned them as "no longer boxing but an exercise in brutality."
In the latest incidents of mismatches in Thailand two Filipino boxers who fought vastly superior opponents were, as expected, badly beaten. Rico Genon who reportedly had a record of 8 wins as against 6 losses, was beaten in a lopsided bout for the IBF Pan Pacific bantamweight championship by Terapong Kaewnongsamed (Distar) who was undefeated in 21 fights with 5 knockouts.
According to boxing writer Ray Wheatley, the Thai champion "consistently connected with accurate right jabs, solid left crosses and left and right rips to the midsection. Genon looked visibly hurt several times in the contest."
All three judges scored it for Terapong, with two having a 120-108 shutout and the third a 117-111 scorecard.
In the other bout Benjie Concepcion who has a woeful record was knocked out in the fourth round by Fahsan 3K Battery the same fighter who was KO’d by Manny Pacquiao in the fourth round last December in "Yanig sa Taguig" at The Fort.The badly beaten Concepcion was decked once in the third round and twice in the fourth.
Games and Amusements boxing division chief Noli Flores told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that Genon had been cleared for an eight round bout and not a title fight while Concepcion had no GAB approval to fight indicating that unscrupulous managers, matchmakers and boxers continue to take the GAB for granted.
