By Adrian Stewart Co

Ilonggo boxer Roman Canto failed to capture the American Boxing Federation (ABF) Continental Americas welterweight belt with a third round stoppage loss to American LaVonte Earley on Sunday at Greenville, South Carolina, USA.

It was the second consecutive defeat of the Barotac Viejo, Iloilo-native Canto after also losing in final bout before the COVID-19 pandemic against Japanese Shuya Masaki.

This was also the third time that Canto has dropped an international boxing title match after failing to clinch the WBC world interim youth super flyweight belt and PABA super bantamweight belt.

Canto was tentative to start the opening round as he circled around Earley before unloading flurry hits in the final minute but the Ilonggo fighter was unable to stun the American foe.

In the second round, Canto rocked Earley twice with his volume punches but the American also sent the Ilonggo boxer to the floor two times with his low blow hits earning him a warning from the referee.

Earley went for the kill in the third round as he connected a punch to the body of Canto that sent the latter to the floor anew. The Ilonggo fighter failed to beat the referee’s count ending the title match.

Canto, a former Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) featherweight titleholder, was apologetic in his post-match message as he vowed to train hard for his future boxing match.

“Humihingi ako ng pasensya gid sa lahat ng nag-support sa akin. Talo talaga tayo,” Canto said in a Facebook video message. “Babawi na lang po tayo sa susunod na laban. Paghahandaan po natin.”

The 31-year-old Canto had his boxing slate dropped to 14-14-3 win-loss-draw, including eight stoppage wins. The Ilonggo boxer was also struggling recently as he only won two of his last eight matches.

The Charlotte, North Carolina-native Earley, on the other hand, maintained an unblemished boxing record to 13-0-0 win-loss-draw, while also netting his seventh knockout victory./ASC, WDJ