Pinoy pug defeats Thai opponent for WBO title

DAVAO CITY — Filipino pug Mark Anthony Barriga defeated Wittawas Bassapean of Thailand via unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBO International minimumweight title on Saturday night at the Heyuan Royal Garden Hotel in Beijing, China.

All three judges Edward Ligas, Martino Redona and Surat Soikrachang scored it 100-90.

Barriga, a London 2012 Olympian was trained by Joven Jimeneez, also trainer-manager of current IBF world super flyweight champion Jerwin ‘Pretty Boy” Ancajas.

Both Barriga and Ancajas are from Panabo City.

Meanwhile, Ronnie Baldonado of Davao City retained his interim WBO Oriental flyweight title by stopping Indonesian challenger Iwan Zoda by a knockout in the sixth round in the same card promoted by Sen. Manny Pacquiao of MP Promotions and Wen Xin Zhou of Ding Xin Sports.

Four other fighters from MP Davao Gym also beat their respective rivals in the undercard. Genisis Libranza won by a unanimous decision on Yujie Zeng while Rene Mark Cuarto knocked out Guangxiong Li in the 3rd round.

Vincent Astrolabio also scored a unanimous decision against Ayati Sailike in their 8-rounder while Jayar Inson defeated Yangcheng Jin by a majority decision in a 6-rounder match. | PNA

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