By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Joepher Montaño clinched the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia welterweight title after a majority decision win over Baishanbo Nasiyiwula of China at The City of Gold in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

It was the second welterweight division belt for the Negros Occidental’s Bago City-native Montaño, after capturing the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental edition last year.

Montaño, dubbed as “El Gwapito,” displayed his punching power in the first few rounds with his accurate left and right combinations that stunned Nasiyiwula.

Nasiyiwula also had his moments in the championship clash as he unloaded several combinations that hurt Montaño, but was not enough to turn the result around.

“It was a pretty close fight for the two fighters, but Joepher showed his aggressiveness in the entire contest,” Highland Boxing Promotion matchmaker Brico Langbay Santig said.

With the victory, the 26-year-old Negrense boxer increased his boxing record to 14 wins, five losses and two draws, including 12 victories by way of knockouts.

It was also the third consecutive victory for Montaño following his technical knockout victories over fellow Pinoy Benjie Suganob, Ari Agustian and Kulbir Dhaka.

On the other hand, Nasiyiwula saw his boxing record drop to 17-4-1 win-loss-draw, with seven of his career victories by way of stoppages.

Meanwhile, WBO Oriental champion KJ Natuplag failed to duplicate the victory of Montaño as he was defeated by Chinese Liu Wensong in the co-main event bout.

Natuplag had his record dropped to 11-4-2, with 10 victories by way of stoppages, while Liu improved his boxing slate to 9-1-1, with five knockout victories./ASC, WDJ