RAYMOND Tabugon’s first foray in Mexico was an unsuccessful one after he absorbed a sixth-round technical knockout (TKO) loss to Juan Hernandez yesterday in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
The stalwart of the General Santos City-based Sanman Boxing Gym saw his six-fight winning streak come to an end and dropped to 17W-4L-1D.
The Mexican Hernandez bagged his 29th victory in 32 fights.
According to Chad Canares, adviser of Sanman Promotions, an experienced Hernandez proved too much for Tabugon.
From the opening bell, Hernandez controlled the tempo of the fight, switching from orthodox to southpaw that puzzled the Filipino fighter.
In an e-mail to Cebu Daily News, Canares added the seasoned Mexican fighter was calm and composed all throughout the bout. Tabugon, on the other hand, seemed stiff and fell into almost every trap that Hernandez set up.
After the fight, Hernandez expressed his desire to face off with Roman Gonzales as well as Donnie “Ahas” Nietes of the famed ALA Promotions International.
Canares revealed Tubugon weighed mere a 113.036 pounds, well under the contracted weight of 115 lbs.
Hernandez was overweight as he tipped the scales at 118.36 pounds.
Canares raised the issue but the local boxing commission and the promoter claimed there was no violation and that the fight should go ahead even with Hernandez failing to make the weight since it was a non-title fight.