By Carlos Costa

CEBU, Philippines  -  Undefeated 18-year-old Filipino Vince Paras  (11-0, 9 KO's) of General Santos City scored a clear 10-round unanimous decision win over tough Omega Gym fighter Jimboy Haya (10-4-2, 6 KO's) to capture the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth Jr. Flyweight (108 lbs) Title Saturday night (June 10) at Mandaue City Sports Complex, Cebu, Philippines.

The first round was a close call, but from then on the promising Paras took control of the action, wining with a three point lead on the scorecards of the WBO ringside judges Edward Ligas, Salven Lagumbay and Edgar Olalo - who all voted identical 96-93 in favor of Paras.

A quick combination thrown by Paras dropped Hayas in the second stanza, sending him to the canvas flat on his belly.  

But the tough Jimboy Hayas managed to get up to beat the count of referee Danrex Tapdasan.

In the 8th round, Tapdasan gave Hayas a warning for a low-blow. It did not seem to have been intentional and no points were deducted in the entertaining match, in which both fighters displayed their excellent shape, exchanging hard punches even in the final minutes of the last round.

The triumph has advanced Vince Paras' pro boxing career forward and, at his young age of 18, he positions himself as one of the hottest boxing prospects out of the southern Philippines' Island of Mindanao.