Talented Filipino super flyweight Aston Palicte blasted Mexico?s Ismael Garnica and busted his nose in a one-sided battering that forced referee Eddie Claudio to call a halt at 2:19 of the 7th round.
The 24 year old Palicte who is trained by Manny Pacquiao?s assistant trainer Nonoy Neri and fights under the banner of MP Promotions improved to 17-1 with 15 knockouts.
Palicte had won the vacant IBF Youth title last January 31 with a 1st round knockout of Thailand?s Jomyuthiek Sor Narongchai.
In a post-fight message Palicte said he was dedicating his victory to Pacquiao and said he was rooting for the eight division world champion and praying for his safety in his May 2 showdown against undefeated pound for pound No.1 Floyd Mayweather Jr .
The victory was the seventh straight by the lanky Palicte following his fourth round stoppage by Romnick Magos on December 1, 2012 in a clash for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth title in an all-out war where Palicte dropped Magos in the first round but was himself sent to the canvas in rounds 3 and 4 and retired.
Two other Filipino boxers lost and although lightweight Raymond Sermona (17-5-5, 8 KO?s) lost by a devastating 1st round knockout in what appeared to be a mismatch against Top Rank prot?g? Jose Felix Jr, (29-1-1, 24 KO?s) 23 year old Michael ?Blade? Enriquez lost in an all-out war against hugely popular 27 year old unbeaten Hong Kong fighter Rex Tso.
The deciding factor in a close bout which Tso won 95-94 on the scorecards of judges Glen Feldman and Robert Hoyle and 96-93 on the card of Salven Lagumbay came in the third round.
Enriquez was hurting Tso with several combinations but towards the end of the round Tso caught the game Filipino with a left to score the only knockdown of the fight which eventually made the difference.
With the loss Enriquez dropped to 10-3-1 with 6 knockouts while Tso who won the WBA International title remains unbeaten with a record of 16-0 and 9 knockouts.
Sermona appeared to be a stepping stone for Felix Jr who is being groomed for another shot at a world title after he lost in his first attempt, dropping a unanimous twelve round decision in a WBA Interim super featherweight title fight against Bryan Vasquez on April 12, 2014.
Sermona?s record of 17-5-5 with 8 knockouts included an eight round unanimous decision win over Richard Olisa last November 15. Olisa has lost his last eleven fights in a row for a miserable record of 23-26-2.
Sermona also won by a 7th round technical decision over Desson Cag-ong whose record to date is 14-13 with 8 knockouts.
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