Filipino boxers shine in ‘Thrilla in Manila’ anniversary card

Sports

WITH no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao in attendance, Filipino boxers put on a show and went home victorious in an action-packed card staged to mark the 50th anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila” at the Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Leading the group of victorious Filipino fighters was the Cebu City-based Melvin Jerusalem, who successfully defended his World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title by beating South African challenger Siyakholwa Kuse via unanmous decision.

In keeping his world title belt, the 31-year-old Jerusalem hiked his record to 25W-3L, 12KOs. Kuse dropped to 9W-3L-1D.

Also winning was Eumir Marcial, who survived Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares via majority decision to capture the vacant WBC International middleweight title.

Marcial walked the tightrope before escaping with the win as he was knocked down in the third and 10th rounds before prevailing.

Two judges scored the bout for Marcial with identical scores of 95-93. The third judge had it even, 94-94.

Marcial remained undefeated in seven fights while Colmenares dropped to 11W-3L-1D.

On the other hand, Marlon Tapales, the former International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association super bantamweight champion, nailed a sixth-round technical knockout win over Venezuelan Fernando Toro.

The 33-year-old Tapales improved to 41W-4L while Toro went home with his third loss against 11 wins.

Also, Ifugao boxer Carl Jammes Martin preserved his immaculate slate by pulling off a unanimous decision win over Thai fighter Aran Diapen.

Martin now holds a perfect 27-0-0 slate with all judges scoring the fight for him via scores of 98-91, 97-92, 98-90.

Tallying his own victory was Pacquiao’s son Eman Bacosa, who netted a unanimous decision win over compatriot Nico Salado.

Bacosa, 21, improved to a 7W-0L-1D while Salado fell to 2W-2L-1D.(CCM)