FRESNO, CALIFORNIA – John Moralde came back from a stunning loss the last time to score a unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Ismail Muwendo on Saturday night at the Save Mart Center (Sunday, Manila time).
The eight-round lightweight match had barely warmed up when the 24-year-old Moralde sent Muwendo sprawling on the canvass courtesy of a left cross.
But the Ugandan-born Muwendo shook off the cobwebs and gamely engaged the Filipino from General Santos City in an exciting slugfest the rest of the bout.
Moralde won on the three judges’ cards by scores of 76-74, 76-74, 77-73.
The Filipino improved to 20-1, with 10 KOs as he bounced back from his first career loss against Toka Kahn Clary in New York City last December.
The bout served as an undercard to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight title fight between Filipino champion Jerwin Ancajas and countryman Jonas Sultan.
Moralde sent Muwendo reeling down anew with a right hook in the middle of an exchange just when round five was coming to an end.
Muwendo, meanwhile, went down with his first career defeat for a 19-1 record, including 12 KOs.
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