BRAVO STOPS PRONCO TO WIN PBF TITLE; CRISTOBAL RETAINS CROWN

Referee Rodel Garde raising the hand of new PBF flyweight champion Michael Bravo. (Photo by LITO DELOS REYES)

Indonesian Noldi Manakane sits down at his corner after he was knocked out in the first round.

TAGUM City – Stablemates Rosekie “Kapre” Cristobal and Michael “Chieftain” Bravo both scored knockout wins in their separate titles fight in the Philippine Boxing Federation held Saturday night at the University of Mindanao Gym here.
Cristobal stopped Romeo Jacosalem in the second round to retain his PBF super lightweight title while Bravo pummeled to submission Lyster Jun Pronco in the 5th round to capture the vacant PBF light flyweight crown.
Cristobal landed a solid punch to cut Jacosalem’s left eyebrow in Round 2. The nasty cut was worsened by Cristobal’s continuous jabs in Round 3 that forced ring physician Edgar Tan to finally stop the fight.
Cristobal now has 15 wins with 11 knockouts against only two defeats.
“Nagbunga ang training ni Roskie dahil may lakas naman talaga siya,” said trainer Rene Inocian.
Bravo, on the other hand, got complacent in the last 10 seconds of the opening round and was hit on the midsection. Bravo made a good start by landing his left-right combination.
In the 2nd round, Bravo caught Pronco with a right cross on the head to send him down on the canvas in the dying seconds. Bravo continued to keep Pronco at bay with his stinging jabs in the next round.
In Round 5, Bravo made his relentless attack that saw Pronco backpedalling to the corner which forced referee Rodel Garde to stop the fight.
Cristobal and Bravo are both fighting under the MB Northstar Promotions of Engr. Jilson Basang and businessman Ralph Garreth Peterson.
“We’re proud of our boxers Rosekie and Michael for their impressive showing tonight,” said Basang, also president of the Mindanao Professional Boxing Association (MinProBA).
In the other bouts, Alvin Makiling landed more telling blows to beat Jovany Rota by a unanimous decision in their battle for the vacant MinProBA lightweight title.
Ken Jordan of Amoy Stable won by a split decision against Jestine Tesoro of MP Digos Gym while Jaegar Bereno of Sanman Stable beat Ramil Antaran by a unanimous decision.
Reymark Alicaba of MP Digos stopped Rocky Sadido by a technical knockout in the rest period of the 3rd round.
Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Commissioners Eduard Trinidad and Mar Masanguid both graced the boxing event promoted by Raul Timogtimog of RATIM Sports Promotions and Engr. Jilson Basang of MB Northstar Promotions. (LITO DELOS REYES)