KATIANDAGHO BAGS WBC EURASIA PACIFIC BOXING COUNCIL WELTERWEIGHT TITLE

By LITO DELOS REYES

FILIPINO slugger Sonny “Pinoy Hearns” Katiandagho survived a first round knockdown to stop then undefeated Rafik Harutjunjan of Armenia in the third round by a technical knockout to capture the vacant WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council welterweight crown last Saturday night at the Sichuan Gymnasium in Chengdu, China.

Katiandagho, a native of General Santos City was surprisingly downed by a right over hang to his head in the opening round. But he was able to stand up to even answer back in the second round by also knocking down the Amernian with solid body shots.

“The opponent is strong but because Sonny have trained well he was able to recover immediately from the knockdown,” said manager Brico Santig in a text message.

Katiandagho downed his opponent with body shots in the second round. He continued hurting the Amernian with telling body blows in the third round until the referee saw that Harutjunjan was already badly hurt and trying to run away from the Filipino fighter.

The referee stopped the fight before the end of the third round.

“Suerte at tinalo natin ang isang undefeated. Pero basta’t my tamang ensayo at preparasyon, malaki talaga ang chance sa boxer na manalo (We’re lucky to beat an undefeated. But with a good training and preparation, there is always a good chance for a boxer to win), said trainer Joven Jorda.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako sa ating Panginoon at binigyan nya po ulit ako nang pakakataon na manalo,” (I thanked our Lord God for giving again another chance to win) said Katiangdagho.

The 23-year old Katiandagho improved his record to 10 straight wins with six knockouts and one loss while Harutjunjan suffered his first setback after nine straight wins.

Meanwhile, Rogelio Casarez of the United States captured the IBU World Championship super Lightweight title by a convincing unanimous decision against Thailand’s Ronnakit Boontree.

Casarez improved to 12-5-0-5 KO while Boontree suffered his first defeat against 8 wins with 5 KOs.

WBC Silver female super featherweight champion Melissa “Little Miss Tyson” St Vil of Brooklyn, New York retained her crown by defeating ex-IBF World female super bantamweight champion Katy Wilson “La Super Baby” Castillo of Dominican Republic by a via majority decision.

St Vil now has a 8-2-3 slate while Castillo dropped to 18-2-0 card.

The boxing card was presented by the Manny Pacquiao Promotions China under Jun Tao.

AND THE WINNER IS. Sonny “Pinoy Hearns” Katiangdagho (3rd from left) receives his new golden belt. (Photo by BRICO SANTIG)

WBC Silver female super featherweight champion Melissa “Little Miss Tyson” St Vil of Brooklyn, New York (2nd from right) defeated ex-IBF World female super bantamweight champion feisty female super featherweights Katy Wilson “La Super Baby” Castillo of Dominican Republic by a via majority decision. (Photo by BRICO SANTIG)

Rogelio Casarez of the United States kneels down after he captured the IBU World Championship super lightweight title by a convincing unanimous decision against Thailand’s Ronnakit Boontree. (Photo by BRICO SANTIG)