Henzan, Kongsang settle for draw in OPBF bout

Japan’s Yuko Henzan and Thailand’s Phannaluk Kongsang fought to a split draw for the still vacant title during the Battle of Palawan: Night of Champions, held at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum on Friday night. (Photo: Phannaluk Kongsang/Facebook)

MANILA — The Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) female bantamweight belt remains without a holder.

Japan’s Yuko Henzan and Thailand’s Phannaluk Kongsang fought to a split draw for the still vacant title during the Battle of Palawan: Night of Champions, held at the Puerto Princesa City Coliseum on Friday night.

Kongsang showed heart down the stretch to salvage the draw against Henzan, who began landing shots midway through.

The eight-round bout started slow as both pugs sized up each other. Action then picked up in Round 4 as the Japanese pug began landing good shots on her Thai opponent.

Kongsang, however, remained tough and even got a second wind in the end.

Raymond Chang gave a 77-75 edge for Henzan, while Ed Nobleza gave a 77-75 score for Kongsang. Jojo Llanera had it 76-76, forcing the draw.

Meanwhile, Jilbert Gomera became the new OPBF featherweight champion after knocking out Omri Bolivar.

Gomera saw daylight in Round 5, connecting on huge body shots that forced two knockdowns on Bolivar, the last hurting his midsection too much that Bolivar’s camp stepped in to concede.