BOXING

Francisco dumps Dalogdog, wins Phl ‘fly’ title

Nick Giongco

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.