Joseph ‘The Hunter’ Sumabong became the latest addition to the growing list of champions from PMI Bohol Boxing Stable.
The pride of Tagbilaran City shocked the previously undefeated Japanese Takero Kitano to clinch the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific minimumweight title on Tuesday night, October 21 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The 23-year-old Sumabong knocked down Kitano in the first round that set the stage for his rousing victory by unanimous decision after 10 rounds of action.
Sumabong was clearly the dominant fighter that even Japanese judge Katsuhiko Nakamura scored the bout 97-92 for the new WBO regional titlist.
Nakamura’s compatriot Koji Tanaka and Cebuano international judge Edward Ligas both had it 96-93 for Sumabong, who now holds a 9-1 win-loss record with 4KOs while aligning himself with fellow crown-holders Regie Suganob, Shane Gentallan, Reymart Tagacanao, Virgel Vitor, Jake Amparo, Christian Balunan, and Gerwin Asilo from PMI Bohol Stable under the stewardship of Atty. Floriezyl Echavez Podot.
Kitano, meanwhile, tasted defeat for the first time in 10 fights with 4KOs.