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| Renan Trongco (left) looked for an opening to deck Hayato Yamaguchi in their WBC International Flyweight title match. Ivan Saldajeno |
By Ivan Saldajeno
Renan Trongco got a majority decision win against Japanese opponent Hayato Yamaguchi in their WBC International Flyweight Championship match in the main event of the Heart of Champions fight card at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City.
Trongco got the nod of two of the three judges in the bout as he got 116-112 and 117-112 leads for the successful defense of his WBC crown. The other judge saw it a 114-114 draw.
Trongco started pouring it on against Yamaguchi in the early rounds, forcing a swelling on the Japanese's left cheek in the fifth round.
The bulge eventually opened up in the ninth round as blood trickled from Yamaguchi's left cheek.
Trongco almost knocked out Yamaguchi in the tenth, tagging him with crisp shots particularly in the already bleeding face side that buckled his legs.
Yamaguchi, however, showed his toughness in the end, even making good shots at Trongco in the championship rounds.
Trongco moves to a 16-4 win-loss card.
On his next bout, Trongco said that he is leaving to his promoter, Bebot Elorde, the main organizer of the boxing event.
However, Rexon Flores, Trongco's trainor, said that a world title fight is now being considered for Trongco.
Flores also admitted that Trongco played with a hurt hand during the fight.
"Tumama po sa ulo ng ka-sparring," Flores described how Trongco suffered the hand injury.
Flores also said that they were expecting Yamaguchi to go all out despite the damage done to him.
"Kahit na duguan sila, lumalaban sila ng patayan," Flores said about the Japanese fighters.
In the co-main event, Lady Love Sampiton also scored a majority decision win against Carleans Rivas for the vacant Philippine women's flyweight title.
In the undercards, Jeffrey Arienza, Joe Misako, Rolly Sumalpong, and Bebong Manalo scored knockout wins against their respective opponents.
In the co-main event, Lady Love Sampiton also scored a majority decision win against Carleans Rivas for the vacant Philippine women's flyweight title.
In the undercards, Jeffrey Arienza, Joe Misako, Rolly Sumalpong, and Bebong Manalo scored knockout wins against their respective opponents.
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