By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Malcolm Tunacao, showing flashes of the fighting form that enabled him to win the WBC flyweight title by knocking out Medgoen 3K Battery, the same fighter who knocked out Manny Pacquiao to win the crown, has scored a ninth round TKO win over Japan’s Takafumi Himeno at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
The lanky 27 year old southpaw who was stripped of his WBC International title for failing to make a mandatory defense in South Africa, proved far too strong for the unranked Japanese, decking him in the eighth round and then forcing the referee to stop the fight in the ninth after Tunacao shut Himeno’s left eye with his stinging punches. The time was 2:43 of the ninth.
It was Tunacao’s sixth straight win since losing the world title and his win is expected to move him up in the WBC rankings where he is listed at No. 12. Tunacao improved his record to 17-1-1 with 12 knockouts while Himeno dropped to 11—3-2 with 3 knockouts. Both Tunacao and Himeno weighed slightly over the super flyweight limit with the Filipino coming in at 116.75 pounds and the Japanese 116.5.
Tunacao is now being managed by respected Japanese businessman Yasuo Matsuka whose Filipina wife Gina relayed news of the win to Viva Sports/Manila Standard.
Prior to leaving for Tokyo, Tunacao said he was well-received in Japan especially when he sparred with WBC flyweight champion Kawashima. Tunacao also said he was very pleased with his new husband and wife
management team and that he has been well taken care of by Mr and Mrs. Matsuka. Tunacao expressed confidence that he could once again become a world champion.
