Palicte crowned as new WBO Oriental champ; Rivera ends Cabalquinto’s streak

Aston Palicte emerged as the new WBO Oriental Super Flyweight champion, edging compatriot Vergilio Silvano via a twelve round unanimous decision victory 116-110, 116-110, 118- 108 in yesterday’s “Tibay ng Pinoy XI” card at the Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City.

Both Palicte and Silvano put on a show for the people in attendance, majority of whom were naval personnel, with a highly competitive fight for the vacant title. Palicte dictated much of the fight, landing hard shots on the smaller Silvano.

The country’s number three ranked boxer, who weighed in at 115 pounds according to Boxrec, was able to drop Silvano twice, once in the first round and another in the fifth. However Silvano, a former WBO Oriental Light Flyweight titleholder, was able to survive the onslaught and fought until the final bell.

In the supporting event, highly touted super lightweight prospect Adones Cabalquinto suffered a stunning first round defeat at the hands of “Machine Gun” Al Rivera of Santa Rosa, Laguna. 

Cabalquinto, who entered the fight with an impressive record of 21 consecutive victories, got caught by a solid right hook and uppercut combination from Rivera at the 30-second mark of second round.

The “Machine Gun” has added Cabalquinto to his list of quarries, improving his record of fourteen wins and two losses, with twelve coming by KO/TKO.

In other bouts, world-rated Jerwin Ancajas won via a first round knockout over Paul Apolinaro, while Jayar Inson needed ten rounds to dismantle Bryan Macamay in their lightweight tilt via TKO.