RANDY Petalcorin admitted suffering leg cramps during his world title fight against Felix Alvarado on Monday night.
It turned out he was feeling far worse than that.
Peter Maniatis, who promotes Petalcorin along with SanMan Promotions, disclosed the Filipino suffered internal bleeding during the action-packed bout at the Midas Hotel for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight crown.
Petalcorin lost by technical knockout after going down thrice in the seventh round, which he said was the result of leg cramps that prevented him from moving away out of harm’s way.
“Randy was suffering internal bleeding from the third round was swallowing too much of his own blood, finding it hard to breathe,” said Maniatis in an interview with FightNews.com
Maniatis claimed Petalcorin was the recipient of several low blows from Alvarado, who he describes as a ‘beast and toughest guy in the division.’
He also believed that prior to stopping the bout by referee Ernie Sharif, Petalcorin was on even terms with the Nicaraguan bomber.
Maniatis said boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, whose MP Promotions put up the fight card along with ESPN 5, was texting during the fight and suggesting for Petalcorin to use his jab and spin off angles to avoid getting tag by the hard-punching Alvarado.
“When Randy was doing that, he was winning the fight,” he added.
Alvarado wasn't spared either from the brutal beatings he received from Petalcorin as he vomitted twice while on his way to the dressing room and carrying his shining title belt.
Despite the loss, bigger plans await the 26-year-old Petalcorin.
“We will go back to the drawing boards for now,” said Maniatis. “Randy will come back bigger and better. Randy will take a break over Christmas, then we’ll be looking at his next fight in the new year (2019).”
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