RP BOXER WINS LATIN AMERICAN TITLE

Manila, Oct. 11, 1997 - Boxing enthusiasts are jubilant over belated reports that JOMA Gamboa scored a knock-out against former World Boxing Association (WBA) champion Carlos Murillo of Panama last Sept. 17 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Gamboa, fast emerging as the next Pinoy boxing sensation, is ranked eighth in the WBA junior flyweight division. He floored the Number 2 rated Murillo with a right straight to the chin in three minutes of the first round of their scheduled 12-rounder.

The win gave Gamboa the Latin American title. He's the fourth Filipino to achieve this in the 90s, after Ronnie Magramo, Gerry Penaloza and Luisito Espinosa.