KJ Natuplag is on a roll.
Natupalg needed only two rounds to dispose of Thai Boonrueang Phayom to win the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental featherweight strap on November 12 at the VIC Sports Complex in Dubai.
The 26 -year -old Lagawe, Ifugao native immediately went to work right after the sound of the bell, landing combinations after combinations.
In the second round, Natuplag caught the Thai fighter with a straight that almost knocked him out but was able to beat the count.
Sensing blood, Natuplag made sure his shots to the body connected as the Thai slowly faded away and caught another solid right hook and forced the referee to stop the fight at the 55-second mark of the second round.
Natuplag has won three straight bouts since incurring three losses in 2019 until 2021 for a record of 11-3-2 win loss draw card that include10 stoppages.
His opponent, Thai slugger Phayom meanwhile suffered his second career loss out of his 12 bouts, with all of his victories coming by way of a knockout.
In June this year, Natuplag defeated another Thailander, Attanon Kunlawong with a second round stoppage to win the WBC Asian Boxing Council featherweight title also in Dubai.
Natuplag has been campaigning in Dubai for the past two years although he lost in his first fight via a unanimous decision defeat against Hasibullah Ahmadi.
***
In the ongoing 8th Philippine Sports Commission Women’s Martial Arts Festival at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Islay Erika Bomogao proved herself superior over SEA Games waikru partner Rhichein Yosorez in the individual waikru event.
A proud native of Baguio City, Bomogao and Yosorez struck gold earlier in women’s waikru during the SEA Games in Vietnam. They participated in the WMA Festival as part of their preparations for several forthcoming tournaments as well as for the 6th Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games in Bangkok, Thailand next year.