MANILA, Philippines – Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton put on a virtual display of boxing skills to dominate Franchesca Alcanter and retain her World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight title Saturday at the Craneway Pavilion Point Richmond in California.
Behind her impressive footwork, the 30-year-old champion kept the challenger at bay with her powerful lead left jab and solid combinations to control the 10-round title bout and successfully defend the 122-lbs belt she wrested from Maria Elena Villalobos last July.
Julaton won by scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94.
She improved to 8-2-1 overall.
“I just kept her away with those left jabs of mine,” said Julaton after the fight. “I know Franchesca will be bringing her A-game in the ring, but I was ready for it.”
Julaton’s victory stretched the winning run of Filipino boxers for the month. Only a week ago, Nonito Donaire Jr. claimed the WBO and World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight crowns with a second round destruction of Mexican Fernando Montiel.
Along with her and Donaire, the country has two other current world champions in Donnie Nietes (WBO minimumweight) and superstar Manny Pacquiao (WBO welterweight).
Alcanter, dubbed “The Chosen One” from Kansas City, fell to 18-10 (9KOs), and failed in her fifth and latest attempt to win a world title.
The challenger, 37, never got on track, as she was mostly forced on the defensive end by Julaton’s aggressive stance. She had her best moment in the sixth round when she connected on a straight right that shook the champion a bit.
But in all, Julaton, now based in Daly City, California, but whose parents are from Pozzorubio, Pangasinan, had Alcanter under her spell, rocking the challenger on the ropes several times with punishing left and rights.
By the end of the bout, Alcanter was left with a bloodied nose and sported a welt just under her right eye.
Julaton’s manager Angelo Reyes served as her chief cornerman vice Freddie Roach.
Orion Sports’ Allan Tremblay, who promotes Julaton, said a possible fight in the Philippines is likely next for the first and only lady boxing champion from the Philippines, depending on how she recovers from her first title defense.
For Julaton though, fighting before her countrymen is definitely going to be a big honor for her.
“Hello, Philippines. I dedicate this fight to all of you out there,” she said after the match aired live from California by TV5 and Aksyon TV41. “I can’t wait to be there again.”
source: philstar.com
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