Saturday, 08 August 2026 · Philippines
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ERICA HANAWA WINS WBC ASIA CONTINENTAL FEMALE ATOMWEIGHT TITLE

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A New Crown, the Power of Innovation, and the Eternal Legacy of Sal Sánchez
A New Crown, the Power of Innovation, and the Eternal Legacy of Sal Sánchez
By Mauricio Sulaimán / WBC President / Son of José Sulaimán

A new world champion shook the boxing world on Saturday with a display of courage, valor, …

Japan?s unbeaten Erica Hanawa won the WBC Asia Continental female atomweight title with a unanimous 6 round decision over rugged Filipina Kristine Latube whose swarming tactics had Hanawa bewildered at times before the Japanese girl used her hand-speed and nimble footwork to stay out of trouble and pile up the points.

All three judges scored the fight for Hanawa with British judge Robert Bridges turning in a 59-55 scorecard which was duplicated by Jerrold Tomeldan who also scored it 59-55 for Hanawa while the third judge Gil Co had the Japanese girl winning by a 58-56 margin.

The 1 win, 9 loss, 2 draws record of Latube was thrown out of the window as she charged forward aggressively to stun the unbeaten Hanawa who had 4 wins including 1 knockout before the Japanese girl settled down to catch the tiring Latube with quick combinations in the six round bout.

While Latube won the approval of the fans at the Mandaluyong Elementary School in Barangay Poblacion with her sometimes wild punches in a desperate effort to score a knockdown, Hanawa used her all-round boxing skills to maintain her unbeaten streak in a tough battle she apparently didn?t bargain for considering the record of Latube.

Hanawa was coming off a second round TKO of Thailand?s Shisa Mnopgym at the Korakuen Hall last March 1 while Latube had lost by a 7th round TKO in a battle for the vacant Oriental Pacific Boxing Federation female flyweight title to Yunoka Furukawa last February 21 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Columns
A New Crown, the Power of Innovation, and the Eternal Legacy of Sal Sánchez
A New Crown, the Power of Innovation, and the Eternal Legacy of Sal Sánchez
By Mauricio Sulaimán / WBC President / Son of José Sulaimán

A new world champion shook the boxing world on Saturday with a display of courage, valor, …

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