'Hurricane' Julaton succeeds in title defense
Ana "The Hurricane" Julaton put on a veritable display of boxing skills to dominate Franchesca Alcanter and retain her World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight title Saturday at the Craneway Pavilion Point Richmond in California. Behind her impressive footwork, the 30-year-old champion kept the challenger at bay with her powerful lead left jab and solid combinations to control the 10-round title bout and successfully defend the 122-lbs belt she wrested from Maria Elena Villalobos last July. The judges' scorecards had it at 98-92, 97-93, and 96-94 for Julaton. She improved to 8-2-1 overall. "I just kept her away with those left jabs of mine," said Julaton after the fight. "I know Franchesca will be bringing her A-game into the ring, but I was ready for it." Julaton's victory stretched the Filipino boxers' winning run for the month. Only a week ago, Nonito Donaire Jr. claimed the WBO and World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight crowns with a second-round destruction of Mexican Fernando Montiel. Along with her and Donaire, the country has two other current world champions in Donnie Nietes (WBO minimumweight) and boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao (WBO welterweight).
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