Christian Araneta, Harmonito Dela Torre Score Wins Saturday in Cebu

By Carlos Costa

CEBU CITY – Hard-hitting world-ranked Light Flyweight Christian Araneta (17-0, 14 KO’s) of the Philippines – one of the candidates to Cebu’s Best Knock Out of the Year – made good use of his speed and boxing skills to score a unanimous decision win over unheralded but tough Vincent “The Lizard” Bautista, 25, Saturday (Dec 22) of Tarlac @ Robinsons Galleria here in the Queen City of the South, Cebu.

In his prior battle last August, Christian Araneta scored a devastating, explosive 12th round knock out over game former world-title challenger Jerry Tomogdan, sending Jerry flying backwards, landing unconscious flat on his back, shocking and scaring everyone in attendance that night at the Mandaue Sports Complex.

Araneta hammered home that August chilling knockout two seconds before the end of the battle at the 2:58 mark in round 12. Fans were expecting the “Lizard” to be squashed in similar fashion. Saturday night, however, Araneta had to go the distance.

“Still, I am satisfied,” said Araneta’s coach Julius Erving Uy Junco, 33, after GAB referee Romar Kristoffer Embodo raised his fighter’s hand. “Its good that Christian went all the way. You can’t win all fights by knock out.”

Christian Araneta, 23, is currently rated in the light flyweight world-rankings as WBA # 9, WBC # 10 and WBO # 11.

The pics above are of Christian Araneta dominating the Lizard Bautista for a unanimous decision win

HARMONITO DELA TORRE BACK INTO THE WINNING COLUMN

Furthermore, lightweight “Hammer” Harmonito Dela Torre (20-2, 12 KO’s) of the City of Golden Friendship, Cagayan de Oro, bounced back from tough defeats in Las Vegas and Malaysia by outclassing and outpointing unheralded 43-fight-veteran Richard “Tibay” Betos (20-22-2, 7 KO’s) from The Home of the Balangays, Butuan.

Dela Torre – a fighter of the popular JC Manangquil Sanman Boxing Gym – desperately needed the win, and he got it over the former interim WBC Asia belt-holder who took the best shots from Dela Torre, but kept on fighting till the end of the battle.

“A fighter fights till the end. Dela Torre was not going to knock me out,” shared Betos, 31, an old warrior whose best fighting years can be seen in the back mirror, but whose warrior heart is intact.

Harmonito dela Torre being declared winner by unanimous decision. referee is Romar Embodo

“Dela Torre was not that impressive, but a win is a win,” commented a boxing fan after the unanimous decision was announced.

REMANDIMAN RAVAGES CASIDO

In the co-feature, super flyweight leftie Ponciano “Ponce” Remandiman (9-4-1, 4 KO’s) of the beautiful sun-bathed island of Leyte overpowered tough-as-nails Vicente “Enting” Casido (6-2-1, 2 KO’s) of the Wild Boxing Gym.

The end came when Casido give the back to Ponce after being viciously punished against the ropes near his blue corner. The third man Nic Banal had no other option but to wave the fight off.

The well-trained Ponce Remandiman of the Omega Gym has scored wins in his last seven rumbles, and ended the year with a stoppage victory, as predicted.

Super flyweight Ponciano “Ponce” Remandiman (9-4-1, 4 KO’s) of Leyte overpowering Vicente “Enting” Casido (6-2-1, 2 KO’s) of the Wild Boxing Gym

WILD AND BACARO DESTROY OPPONENTS

Furthermore, 17 year-old “Wild Fury” Bryan James Wild (1-0, 1 KO) of the Wild Boxing Stable fights stepped-in into pro boxer with a fast first round knock out win over more-experienced Wilbert Rota in a four-rounder clash in the tough 126-pound division. Bryan James is trained by his father and coach John Wild of England.

Also in the 126-pound weight-class, undefeated 19 year-old Carlo Bacaro (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Cebu’s Omega Gym vaporized in one round Mark Anthony Rotilles (2-4, 1 KO) of Bohol.

undefeated Carlo Bacaro (3-0, 3 KO’s) of Cebu’s Omega Gym punishing Mark Anthony Rotilles (2-4, 1 KO) of Bohol. Third man Nic Banal declares Bacaro winner by stoppage in round one

According to the card’s matchmaker Jerome Calatrava, Bryan James Wild will be offered a fight against Carlo Bacaro. Will he accept?

The card Saturday (Dec 22) at Robinsons Galleria closed the boxing calendar in Cebu.

The event was supervised by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Cebu officials Rolando “Lando” Mendoza and GAB Inspector Glenn Sonido Agena. Present during the show was GAB commissioner Eduard B. Trinidad.

GAB Ringside doc was Doctora Deserree Arreza Yap, M.D. Time-keeper was Larry Balanay.

Kumbati at the Mall was a production of Omega Pro Sports International in association with Robinsons Galleria Cebu.

The author Carlos Costa is a Panama-born fight reporter living in Cebu. He attended this boxing show in Cebu. Carlos can be reached by email: Carlos512@hotmail.com and Whatsapp: +639184538152.