BACOLOD CITY -- Former International Boxing Organization (IBO) world light flyweight champion Rey “Hitman” Loreto landed powerful combinations to make a total of five knockdowns before he finally pummeled to submission a hard-fighting Arnold Garde in 1:12 of Round 8 on Saturday night at the Gaisano City Mall here.
Loreto, a native of Davao City, downed Garde twice with his left hooks in the opening round.
He landed a vicious body shot with another left to knock Garde down again in the second round.
In Round 3, Loreto hit Garde on the chin with a short left for his fourth knockdown.
And finally, in Round 4, Loreto again connected a right straight on Garde’s midsection for the knockout in 1:12. Garde, who was carried by his own brother Rodel to their corner was immediately attended by the lady ring physician.
‘Ibang klase talaga si Loreto, pang world class ang lakas,” said Garde, who suffered his 6th defeat with 8 wins, 3 knockouts and 3 draws.
Garde is a former WBC Asia Pacific light flyweight titleholder, who previously fought but lost by a 2nd round knockout against WBC International light flyweight champion Jonathan Taconing last October 15.
“Matibay at malakas din si Garde. Tinamaan din niya ako sa ulo at nahilo ako (Garde is strong. He hit me too in the head and I was dizzy)," said Loreto, who improved his record to 24 wins with 16 knockouts against 14 losses and no draw.
Also present in the crowd was Loreto’s Japanese girlfriend Sakura and their 4-year-old son Ran, who came all the way from Osaka, Japan to watch the fight.
Meanwhile, two other fighters from Highland Boxing Gym in La Trinidad, Benguet also scored convincing wins in the undercard of the “Civil War: Champion vs. Champion” promoted by Brico Santig of Highland International Boxing Promotions and the Mayor Bing Leonardia Boxing Development Program.
Asian Boxing Federation (ABF) super bantamweight champion Ryan Lumacad landed telling blows to force Brian Diano to quit during the rest period of the 5th round.
Diano was earlier hurt by Lumacad’s sharp jabs and body shots to kneel down on his knees in Round 4.
John Michael Zuleta, a native of Bacolod but based already in Benguet, did not disappoint his hometown fans as he stopped Davao’s Ebonito Loperez via a technical knockout in 2:48 of the 6th round.
Paolo Sy, another Bacoleno settled a majority draw with Murcia’s Elmer Libo-on in their 6-rounder curtain-raiser. (Lito delos Reyes/PNA)
