Baldonado dropped Mananquil with a counter right in the second round and did just enough to beat him in the judges’ scorecards.
Baldonado got the nod of all three judges with scores of 115-112, 117-110 and 115-112. Baldonado ended a three-fight slump and improved to 16-4-1 with nine knockouts, while Mananquil, a former World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia-Pacific bantamweight champion, dropped to 18-4-3 with five knockouts.
Undefeated prospect Ali Canega (8-0-1, 5 KOs) forced aging veteran Edison Berwela (18-47-8, 6 KOs) to quit after the third round, while journeyman Marjohn Yap (32-17, 16 KOs) destroyed ex-Manny Pacquiao sparmate Leonardo Doronio (18-21-3, 11 KOs) in the fourth round in the two main supporting bouts.
In the undercard, Jahzeel Trinidad (8-0, 3 KOs) stopped Cebuano former world title challenger Vergilio Silvano (21-11-2, 12 KOs) in the opening round; Jason Buenaobra (10-7-3, 4 KOs) beat Jonathan Francisco (10-19-1, 4 KOs) by unanimous decision; Jonniel Laurente (6-0-1, 4 KOs) scored a second round technical knockout of Julbirth Tubiano (5-7, 5 KOs); Jonjon Estrada (16-10-1, 14 KOs) walked away with a majority decision over Pablito Canada (8-22-5, 2 KOs); Claudevan Sese (9-3-3, 3 KOs) demolished Rodel Sunquit (5-11-1, 1 KO) in four rounds; Darwin Boyones (4-3, 2 KOs) upset Malfred Majadas (3-2-1, 1 KO) via a third round technical knockout; Donald Laurejas (3-0) won against Jonathan Gajana (2-1, 1 KO) by unanimous decision; former world champion Pedro Taduran (15-4-1, 12 KOs) had a successful ring return with a third round technical knockout of experienced Powell Balaba (9-35-1, 5 KOs); Fernando Tagpuno Jr. (3-2, 3 KOs) handed Arjhay Recto (2-1) his first career loss with a second round stoppage; Clarence Breboneria (3-2, 2 KO) finished off Marklin Itim (2-8) in the very first round; Jetro Pabustan (32-10-6, 10 KOs) knocked out fellow veteran Aroel Romasasa (11-13, 5 KOs) in the second round; and Anton Maglinte (1-2) logged his first career win with a split decision victory over newcomer Raizen Jay Dela Fuente (0-1). (EKA)