Pilapil dominates Korean foe, wrests WBO belt

Sports

ANGELUS “Pitbull” Pilapil hit two birds with one stone when he delivered a solid performance in the main event of Engkwentro 17: Binombahay sa Dalaguete on Wednesday night, Feb. 4, in Dalaguete, southern Cebu.

The rising prospect of the Cebu City-based ARQ Boxing Stable kept his unblemished record intact and in the process became a regional champion after scoring a unanimous decision win over South Korea’s Dae San Yun at the packed Dalaguete Sports Complex and Cultural Center.

The 22-year-old Pilapil dominated the eight-round contest, earning the nod of the three judges to capture the WBO Oriental Youth flyweight title.

In their scorecards, judges John Ceniza and Don Yballe had an identical 79-73 verdict while Edward Ligas saw it at 80-72–all for the diminutive Consolacion native boxer.

Pilapil now has seven wins in as many fights with three of the victories coming via knockout.

The 20-year-old Yun, on the other hand, suffered his third loss in nine fights as he saw his two-fight winning streak come to an end.

In the co-main event, Big Yellow Boxing Stable’s Rhonvex Capuloy posted a fourth-round knockout against Boholano Jason Tinampay to improve to 14W-4L-3D, 11KOs.

Tinampay dropped to 14W-24L-2D, 11KOs.

Pilapil’s stablemates Speedy Boy Acope and Berlando Robles were also victorious.

Acope won over Alan Alberca via split decision while Berland Robles pulled off a first-round knockout victory over Clyde Azarcon in the card co-promoted by the WBO, led by Asia Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo, and local government unit of Dalaguete headed by Mayor Bembie Tambis.(CCM)