LUCKY PUNCH SAVES FOLEY AGAINST “PINOY HEARNS”

SYDNEY, Australia — A lucky punch by Darragh Foley kept him his WBA Oceania super lightweight title and also saved his two eyes from further damage against Filipino challenger Sonny “Pinoy Hearns” Katiandagho in their championship fight held April 8 at the Doltone House in Sylvania Waters, New South Wales here.
Foley’s eyes were already almost closed after the five rounds due to Katiandagho’s stinging punches.
The 28-year old Foley was again badly hurt at the start of the sixth round until he luckily landed a right hook that caught Katiandagho’s chin to send the Filipino down on the ropes in 2:42.
“It was a lucky punch. Sayang lamang na sana si Sonny ng five rounds,” said Katiangdagho’s manager Brico Santig of Highland Gym from La Trinidad, Benguet.
Trainer Joven Jorda immediately climbed up the ring to help Katiandagho.
“Mabuti na lang bumagsak ang ulo ni Sonny sa lubid at hindi sa canvas na matigas pa naman,” said Jorda.
Foley was hit by a right by Katiandagho but instead fell down on the Filipino as they both dropped on the canvas. Referee Will Soulos did not made a mandatory 8-count and instead allowed Foley to stand up and continue fighting.
Katiandagho’s nose started to bleed in the 4th round while Foley’s eyes were now also bulging. Katiandagho, however, continued to dominate the next round until the start of the 6th round.
“Nagkumpiyansa na ako kasi kaya ko na yung kalaban,” said Katiandagho, a former WBC Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council welterweight and WBC Youth World super lightweight champion.
The 24-year old Katiandagho suffered only his second defeat against 11 wins with six knockouts while Foley improved his record to 11-2-0, 8 KOs.
“Now I call on Jeff Horn. I think he should fight me first instead of Manny Pacquiao,” said Foley, who also stopped Filipino Joebert delos Reyes in his previous and second title defense last July 2 via a 6th round TKO win.
Katiandagho, a native of General Santos City, was one of the sparring partners of Pacquiao, when he was preparing against Jessie Vargas.
Two other Filipino fighters also bowed to their Aussie rivals in the same boxing show promoted by John Ioannou of JNI Promotions and Chris Carmen of Big Ticket Events Pty Ltd.
Mark “The Slam Man” Sales, a look-alike of Manny Pacquiao made a good start by landing two solid punches on the face of defending Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) welterweight champion Jack “The Ripper” Brumaker in the first round.
They traded punches in the second round with Brumaker bombarding Sales with body punches. Sales tried to answer back with a left jab but was countered by a right hook on the face for the knockout in 2:59 of the 2nd round.
“Sayang na ubusan lang ng oras si Sales sa first round na groogy na sana ang kalaban,” said Santig.
Brumaker is now 13-1-1 while Sales, a former World Boxing Federation (WBF) International flyweight champion from Davao City, finally lost after he had a draw and two wins in his last three fights.
Meanwhile, former IBO Asia Pacific lightweight champion Joel dela Cruz was also pummelled to submission by OPBF Silver welterweight champion Ben Savva by a technical knockout in 1:41 of the 5th round in their title fight.
Dela Cruz was knocked down once in the first round and again in the third round. The fight was finally stopped after Dela Cruz was knocked down for the 3rd time in the 5th round.
“Pinahinto ko na agad kasi baka madisgrasya pa siya,” said Santig.
“Tama lang yun dahil delikado na siya,” said OPBF President Juan Ramon Guanzon, who supervised the two OPBF title fights.

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