CEBUANO International Boxing Association (IBA) super-flyweight champion Bruno “Hawaiian Kid” Escalante failed to snatch the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super-flyweight strap last Saturday when he suffered a unanimous decision loss to American Oscar Cantu in Texas, USA.
Fighting out of Redwood City, California, Escalante bowed to the 24-year-old Cantu in all three judges’ scorecards. Judges Ruben Carrion and Don Griffin both saw it 93-97 while Luis Escalona scored the bout 94-96, all for Cantu.
Cantu remained unbeaten in 13 fights with a single knockout while the 27-year-old Escalante suffered his second loss with 14 wins, a draw along with six knockouts.
However, Escalante’s camp considered the result as a hometown decision. According to reports from Philboxing.com, Cantu was battered and badly bruised after the fight with Escalante scoring big in the later rounds. But Cantu managed to utilize his height and reach advantage to earn points.
“We knew we were going to fight in his hometown so we prepared ourselves. We aimed for a knockout to win the fight. It’s his hometown. We cannot leave it to a decision. The score was exactly the same as we expected. If it went to the scorecards, they were going to give it to him,” said Escalante in a report from Philboxing.com
Escalante was recently featured in the October fight card of ALA Promotions in StubHub Center in Carson, California where he won over Mexican Nestor Ramos via unanimous decision in their six-round bout.