Francisco dumps Dalogdog, wins Phl ‘fly’ title

Albert Francisco halted Angelou Dalogdog in the tenth round Saturday to snatch the vacant Philippine flyweight crown during Manny Pacquiao Presents: Blow-By-Blow at the Barangay Namayan Covered Court in Mandaluyong City.

Fighting out of the Johnny Elorde Stable, Francisco decked the previously-unbeaten Dalogdog with a one-two combo that forced referee Jerold Tomeldan to administer the traditional eight-count.

While Dalogdog succeeded in getting up, he could not escape being hurt once again, compelling the third man on the ring to pull the plug on his bid.

It was a sensational ending to Blow-By-Blow’s return after a brief hiatus and Pacquiao was quick to praise the fighters who took part in the program’s much-awaited comeback.

“As I have said many times before, I have a sacred vow to help Philippine boxing that’s why I brought Blow-By-Blow back,” said Pacquiao, who was the television program’s top attraction in the 1990s.

The win boosted Francisco’s win-loss-draw record to 14-1-0 with ten knockouts while the loss was the first heartbreak for the Bohol-based Dalogdog, whose card dipped to 10-1-0 with four knockouts.

Pacquiao revived Blow-By-Blow in late-2023.