Weight Issues Scrapped Torres, Julaton Bouts

By Rey Danseco
 
MANILA-trained featherweight fighter Michael Farenas stopped former North American Boxing Association bantamweight champ Arturo Valenzuela of Mexico on the undercard of the rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Marco Antonio Barrera in Las Vegas yesterday.

Farenas scored a knockdown late in the first round when he landed a hard left straight to the jaw, sending Valenzuela crashing to the ropes.

The 23-year-old southpaw never gave the more seasoned Mexican a chance to recover when he thumped him with numerous left hand punches. Unable to answer with Farenas’ flurry of punches, the referee stepped in and stops the carnage at 58 seconds of the second round.

Farenas is a native of Gubat in Sorsogon and under the guidance of World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa. He improved his record with his impressive victory in his U.S. debut to 18-2-2 with 16 knockouts.

The 31-year old Valenzuela, a KO artist, took his ninth lose. He has 17 stoppages in 19 wins and a draw. They both weight 126 punds in the weigh-in yesterday at Events Center, the venue of the fight.

The fight, held at Mandalay Bay Events Center where witness by few spectators as it was like an almost empty warehouse in the early undercard matches of "Will to Win."

The fight of U.S-based native of Davao City, Vernie Torres and the bout featuring Fil-Am Ana “Hurricane” Julaton were scrapped due to weight disparities between them and their respective opponents.

Torres was supposed to face Manuel Sarabia in 6-round bout and looking to end his four-fight losing since last year in the U.S. But the Nevada State Athletic Commission shelved the fight when the the 33-year old native of Davao City who has a 27-10, 15 KOs record, tipped the scale at 127 pounds – well beyond the contract weight limit. Sarabia was 121.5 pounds during the weigh in. 

Julaton, on the other hand, weighed in at the contract of 121 pounds. Her foe, Hondi Hernandez was 128 lbs.