Li-loan boxer losses his title match

TOKYO, JAPAN – Philippine Lightweight Champion and boxing pride of Li-loan town Southern Leyte, Rey “Malone” Labao, lost his championship bid for the Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation crown when he was out pointed by Yoshitaka Kato after he broke his left hand after hitting Kato with a mighty left hook to the head. Labao who is known as a smart brawler had won the first three rounds and at one point in the third round almost dropped Kato. But suddenly Labao released a crushing left hook which hit Kato’s head and fractured his left hand and wrist.

Labao’s corner informed the press that “Labao’s hand was bleeding after they took off his gloves” and the fighter told them the pain was terrible and that’s why he didn’t go for shots to the head and concentrated only on the body of his 28 year old opponent. Seeing Labao’s handicap Kato kept his distance and piled up points in the succeeding rounds with jabs and combinations to win on all the three scorecards. The three judges scored the fight 117- 111, 116-112 and 115-113. Kato improved his record to 26- 4-1 with 7 knockouts while Labao fell to 24-5 with 16 knockouts.