By Rey Danseco

Veteran slugger Alex Escaner knocked down challenger Ayon Naranjo in the eight round on route to a split decision 12 round win to keep his Philippine super-bantamweight title Sunday at Barangay Covered Court in Project, Quezon City.

It was the first title defense of Escaner after he dethroned previously unbeaten champ Reynald Tribo in September of last year in San Juan, Metro Manila.

Escaner, a Paranaque City-trained native of Sultan Kudarat, improved to 21-11,3 draw record with 9 knockouts.

While Naranjo, a fighter from Leonil Lazarito’s stable in Valencia, Bukidnon, dropped to 13-4, 5 KOs.

on the undercard, former Philippine light fly champ Eugene Gonzales took the limelight in the Marty Elorde’s card when he scored the quickest knockout win.

The 27-year old Gonzales (21-15-7 with 8 KOs) caught a well-time left hook to the chin of the waving ex-PABA fly interim titlist Roselito Campaña (15-10-2 with 5 KOs) to score an impressive knockout win at 24 seconds of the first ROUND of schedule 10-rounder in the bantamweight class.

When the two boxers were sizing each other up, Gonzales missed a right hook to the waving head of Campaña, but landed his left hand combination when his Cebu-native foe had moved his head exactly and got hit with his killer punch came from.

Campana fell on his trunks, upped his feet in the air and was counted out with his back laid down flat on the canvass.

The jam-packed crowd went into jubilation after local favorite Sorolla (21-10-3 with 4 KOs) stopped Poonsawat Nimitchai (10-4 with 3 KOs) of Thailand with jab-straight right hand combination at 2:56 of the second of scheduled 10-round bout at 107 lbs.

Allan Fuentes (12-6-5 with 1 KO) is now 2-0 against former WBO super-fly title challenger Roy Doliguez (16-9-5, 9 KOs) via unanimous decision wins over 10 rounds.

Other results: slick punching Yosuke Takeuchi from Tsuruga City, Japan registered his first win in two fights in the Philippines since losing to Jonel Alivio last June 17. He won dominated newcomer Randy Pepito (0-2) over 4 rounds at 122-lb.

Lightweight Lino Pongan, super feather Jaypee Ignacio and flyweight Rhyan Soliveres all win via majority decisions while light flyweight Frankie Escaner earned a unanimous decision against Richard Ignacio over 4 rounds.

Pongan decisioned Ryan Femillan; Ignacio defeated Sim Bicaldo; and Soliveres def. Jose Samson Martin.