Minaliit ng pambato ng Top Rank Inc. na si world ranked Jose Felix Jr. ng Mexico si Philippine No. 1 lightweight Ricky Sismundo at kinailangan ang tulong ng referee at dalawang hurado para magwagi sa 10-round split decision kahapon sa main event ng Uni-Mas card sa Marriott Hotel Events Center sa Burbank, California sa Estados Unidos.

“IBF #4, WBO #7 lightweight José Felix Jr. (33-1-1, 25 KOs) of Los Mochis, Mexico, won a questionable ten round split decision over unheralded Filipino Ricky Sismundo (30-9-2, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at the Marriott Hotel Events Center in Burbank, California,” ayon sa ulat ng Fightnews.com. “The aggressive Sismundo kept Felix on the backfoot all night but came up short 95-94, 96-93 on two cards, while winning the third 95-94. Sismundo was deducted a point for landing a punch right after the bell in round six.”

Naging agresibo si Sismundo sa unang apat na rounds ng sagupaan pero sa ikalimang yugto ng laban ay napaatras niya si Felix na tinamaan ng Pinoy boxer ng matinding kanan bago tumunog ang bell.

“In round five Sismundo had his best round as he backed Felix to the ropes, later in the round the Filipino landed a huge right. Halfway through in round six Felix’s jab was not doing enough to keep Sismundo away as he continued to press forward with big punches backing the Mexican to the ropes,” dagdag sa ulat. “However, after the bell, referee Zachary Young deducted a point from Sismundo for hitting after the bell. Sismundo appeared to be chopping down Felix in round seven as he continued to back him to the ropes with power punches.”

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Hindi nagbago ang takbo ng laban hanggang sa 10th round at maraming naniniwala na nagwagi si Sismundo sa laban. Ngunit malaking bagay ang binawas na puntos ni Young kaya pumabor sina judges Jonathan Davis (95-94) at Daniel Sandoval (96-93) kay Felix pero pumabor kay Sismundo si judge Max Deluca (95-94). - Gilbert Espeña