Filipino retains crown
The National, Tuesday July 16th, 2013
By JACK AMI
FILIPINO Dado Cabintoy has retained the World Professional Boxing Federation bantamweight international title.
Challenger and home-grown hero Jason Hayeu retired in the ninth round from a muscle cramp on his right leg on Sunday in front of a packed Sir John Guise Indoor Complex.
Cabintoy was punished by the Manus menace Hayeu in the rematch challenge.
Lands Minister Benny Allan was among those who watched the fight. Others included Manus Open MP Ronnie Knight, Justice Ambeng Kandakassi and the envoys of Fiji and Indonesia.
Hayeu was leading on points when he was forced to retire and was counted out by the referee.
It was a fair match, with Cabintoy exchanging sweet punches despite being bombard by the man from Manusian repeatedly.
Cabintoy came to Papua New Guinea to defend his crown and was lucky his opponent collapsed to the floor with muscle cramp.
In the world youth title, PNG’s Joe ‘Bullet’ Kara had to settle for a draw with Filipino Melvin Lee.
Many fight fans thought the Mekeo lad was going to cause an upset but a draw was better than nothing in his first international fight.
This was the best fight of the night and Kara should be praised for his outstanding performance in the 12 round bout.
In the super lightweight Asia Pacific title, PNG’s John Deklam knocked down Fijian Iosefa Cakaunivalu in the sixth round.
But Deklam forfeited the title because he was overweight.
Central’s Francis Oaike stopped Jimmy Pius of Manus for the national bantamweight crown.
East New Britain’s Theo Torot then upset defending champion Johnson Kapus of Enga.
It was an affair between teacher and student as Kevin Vaki and Douglas Walo battled.
The much stronger and youthful Walo hugged his teacher and wept openly at forcing his mentor to retire in the sixth round because of an arm injury.
Central’s Victor Lani was too strong for Goroka’s Toksy Seteme for the super middleweight crown.
In the professional under-cards, John Harris beat Tony Kettlewell in a lightweight fight and Abau’s John Oscar was tested by new kid on the block in Elias Kuno of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in a split decision disputed by fans.