Suganob wins by technical decision over Vicelles

REGIE Suganob is now a step closer to his dream of becoming a world champion after a technical decision win over fellow world-ranked Mark Vicelles in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight world title eliminator on Saturday night, Feb. 25, 2023, in the main event of “Kumong Bol-anon IX – A Tribute to Maestro” at the Calape Cultural Center in Calape, Bohol.

The 25-year-old Suganob’s technical skills were on full display as he beat Vicelles to the punch in their fiery exchanges. He moved beautifully and was very precise with his combinations.

Suganob shocked Vicelles in the fourth round after catching him off guard with a solid right straight that dropped him to the canvass. Vicelles quickly stood up and held on to finish the round.

In the sixth round, Vicelles suffered a huge gash above his right eye after an accidental clash of heads with Suganob.

Referee Danrex Tapdasan had Vicelles’ cut checked by the ring physician and allowed him to continue.

Tapdasan had Vicelles’ gash checked again in the eighth, and this time, ring physician Dr. Rene Bonsubre advised that the fight be stopped. The fight ended in the 1:39 mark of the eighth round and went to the judges’ scorecards.

Judge Gil Co scored it 80-71, Australian judge Adam Height scored it 78-73 and judge Greg Ortega had it 77-74 all in favor of Suganob by technical decision.

“It was a good fight. We were both undefeated. I was really focused on the fight and wasn’t bothered by what they said before the fight. I stayed focused on the win and showed my best,” Suganob said. “I was confident in my preparation. It wasn’t an easy fight, I just got him with our game plan.”

Suganob remained undefeated at 13-0 with four knockouts, while Vicelles suffered his career defeat and dropped to 17-1-1 with 10 knockouts.

“Regie is very special, he’s our banner boxer. We are not PMI without Regie. He’s the face of PMI. He’s humble and shows his talent. He’s not brash and doesn’t trash talk. That’s the personality of Regie. He’s very determined and very disciplined,” praised PMI Boxing’s head Floriezyl Echavez Podot.

After the win, Suganob earned the mandatory challenger spot against reigning IBF light flyweight king Sivenathi Nontshinga.

Suganob believes that he’s ready for the big stage but he still needs to work on some of the holes in his game.

“I’m ready and do my best in a world title fight. I still need a lot to improve and I’ll work on it in training,” he said.

Podot already has plans for Suganob’s world title fight with Nontshinga. They will be bidding for the rights to promote the world championship fight here in the Philippines.

“We already had a meeting with our Japanese partner and we are willing to try and bring the fight here even though we’ll be up against Eddie Hearn of Matchroom,” said Podot. “We’ll try to bring it either in Cebu or Manila.”

Shane Gentallan (7-0, 4 KOs) kept his unbeaten streak and became the new World Boxing Organization (WBO) minimumweight champion with a second-round knockout of Indonesian Faisol Akbar (6-7-1, 2 KOs) in the show’s co-headliner.

In the undercard, former ALA Boy Jess Rhey Waminal (15-8-1, 8 KOs) ended a five-fight slump with a majority decision win over Jhunrille Castino (13-2, 4 KOs), Jake Amparo (12-4-1, 2 KOs) beat tough Charlie Malupangue (9-8-4, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision in a competitive contest, WBO Inter-Continental super flyweight titleholder Jayr Raquinel (14-2-1, 11 KOs) made quick work of experienced Arnold Garde (10-14-5, 4 KOs) aftee knocking him out in just a single round, journeyman Lito Dante (20-11-4, 12 KOs) forced Mike Kinaadman (8-19-2, 6 KOs) to quit on his stool at the end of the fourth round, undefeated prospect Angilou Dalogdog (6-0, 2 KOs) put on a boxing clinic and outclassed a game Anthony Gilbuela (5-3-2, 1 KO) by unanimous decsion, undefeated hard-hitter Reymart Tagacanao (4-0, 4 KOs) put on full display his vaunted power punch after knocking out Isagani Saludar (3-3, 2 KOs) in the first round with a body shot, Pablito Balidio (7-3-3, 2 KOs) stopped Royder Lloyd Borbon (6-14-3, 6 KOs) at the end of the third round, Gerwin Asilo (4-0, 1 KO) kept his unbeated slate after a unanimous decision victory over Jeffrey Aguilar (2-1, 2 KOs) and Reycar Auxilio (4-2, 3 KOs) scored a second round stoppage of Jayar Aliasot (6-6, 5 KOs).