By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Robert “Toto” Landero failed to clinch the World Boxing Council International light flyweight belt after a unanimous decision loss to Indonesian Tibo Monabesa on Wednesday night at the Balai Sarbini Convention Hall in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Pontevedra, Negros Occidental-native Landero was able to engage the much taller Monabesa into a slugfest but it was the Indonesian who got the nod of the three judges, 115-113, 117-111, 116-112.

Both fighters were testing each other in the opening round with minimal exchange of punches before Landero upped the tempo in the second round but most of his attacks were wayward.

Monabesa owned the next three rounds as he was able to dominate Landero with his long range by hitting the Negrense boxer with straights to the head and jabs to the body.

The Indonesian fighter continue to pepper the Filipino puncher with hits in the sixth round but the latter regained his strength in the seventh round by hitting the former with head shots.

Landero engaged Monabesa to a slugfest in the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth rounds as the Filipino fighter was able to wobble the Indonesian several times but the latter managed to stand his ground.

With the match still hanging in the balance, Monabesa became aggressive anew in the 11th round as he unloaded volume punches on Landero while the latter was slowly getting tired.

Both Landero and Monabesa continued their exchange of hits in the 12th and final round but it was the Indonesian who connected the power hits to secure a decision victory.

Monabesa, who is also the International Boxing Organization world light flyweight champion, improved his boxing slate to 21-1-0 win-loss-draw, including eight stoppage wins.

Landero, on the other hand, saw his boxing record dropped to 11-5-2, including two victories by knockouts. The Negrense boxer also suffered his fourth defeat in the last five matches./ASC, WDJ