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'Hurricane' Julaton succeeds in title defense


Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton put on a veritable 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. The judges' scorecards had it at 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 for Julaton. 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 into the ring, but I was ready for it." Julaton's victory stretched the Filipino boxers' winning run 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 boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao (WBO welterweight).


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Dubbed "The Chosen One," Alcanter fell to 18-10 (9KOs), and failed in her fifth and attempt to win a world title. The 37-year-old challenger never got on track as she was forced to be on the defensive end by Julaton’s aggressive stance. Alcanter had her best moment in the sixth round when she connected on a straight right that shook the champion a bit. But on the whole, 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 had a bloodied nose and sported a welt under her right eye. Julaton's manager Angelo Reyes served as her chief cornerman as celebrated trainer Freddie Roach failed to make it to the fight. Orion Sports' Allan Tremblay, Julaton's promoter, said a possible fight in the Philippines is likely for his fighter, depending on how she recovers from her first title defense. For Julaton, though, fighting before her countrymen would definitely be a big honor for her. "Hello, Philippines. I dedicate this fight to all of you out there," she said in the post-fight interview. "I can't wait to be there again." - JVP, KY, GMA News
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