Julaton decks Marcos but loses title

Julaton decks Marcos but loses title

By Joaquin Henson PhilBoxing.com Sun, 18 Mar 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Unable to cope with the work rate of a volume puncher, Ana (The Hurricane) Julaton failed to capitalize on an early knockdown and yielded her WBO female superbantamweight crown to hometown favorite Yesica (La Leona) Marcos via a unanimous 10-round decision at a jampacked Teatro Griego Juan Pablo Segundo in San Martin, Mendoza, Argentina, Friday night (yesterday morning, Manila time).

Julaton scaled 122 pounds for the bout and Marcos, 120 3/4. Referee Roberto Ramirez Sr., a Puerto Rican, and the three judges Cesar Ramos and Jose Roberto Torres of Puerto Rico and Ignacio Robles of Panama came from neutral countries but their Hispanic bias was evident. Ramirez slapped a point deduction on Julaton in the fifth round despite only one prior warning and curtailed the Fil-Ams momentum. In the end, the judges scorecards reflected a one-sided fight that wasnt nearly as indicated. Ramos and Robles had it 98-92 while Torres, 98-91, all for Marcos.

While Marcos deserved the win, the margin of difference in the scorecards was a shocker. The Star scored it 95-93 for the Argentinian.

Marcos began the bout shooting from the hip in a rip-roaring start that had the big crowd cheering lustily. Julaton tried to take the initiative by coming forward but Marcos countered with precision. Fending off Julaton, Marcos pushed her down and Ramirez ruled a slip. In the second round, Julaton landed two left hooks on the jaw and floored Marcos for a mandatory eight-count. Towards the end of the round, it was Marcos flailing away and pressuring Julaton. In a major adjustment, Julaton opened the third round keeping Marcos at bay with her left jab. Instead of charging in, Julaton stayed a safe distance away to take advantage of her length. Marcos had no antidote for Julatons strategic switch and didnt turn the tide until the fifth when Ramirez docked a point from the champion for a low blow.

Asked for his opinion, Filipino referee Danrex Tapdasan said Ramirez deduction seemed to be premature. There is no hard and fast rule as to when to slap a deduction but the most common practice is you deduct on the third infraction. It is of course upon the referees discretion. Usually, a referee gives two soft warnings before a hard warning. A lot has to do with how much damage is inflicted as in the case when a fighter has to be given time to recover from a low blow. The foul has to be damaging for the referee to order a point deduction.

Ramirez ordered a point off Julaton although the damage was inconsequential. Julatons body attack was stymied because of Ramirez intervention.

Marcos, turning up the heat a notch, went on to take the next three rounds as she repeatedly threw punches from all angles. Julaton parried a lot of the blows but couldnt keep up with Marcos work rate. For every punch that Julaton unleashed, Marcos retaliated with three or four. In the ninth, Julaton found the range with her right hand and kept pumping the left jab as Marcos slowed down. But in the final canto, Marcos was back in stride and never retreated in engaging Julaton in a furious finish.

Read more:
Julaton decks Marcos but loses title