Regie Suganob Dominates with Eighth-Round Stoppage Victory Over Siphamandla Baleni
Former world title challenger Regie Suganob delivered a commanding performance, proving his elite status in the light-flyweight division with a technical knockout victory over South African veteran Siphamandla Baleni. The bout served as the main event of PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions' "Kumong Bol-anon XXIV" on February 28, 2026, at the Bohol Cultural Center.
Systematic Domination Leads to Stoppage
The 28-year-old Suganob showcased superior speed and technical skills throughout the fight, systematically punishing his 35-year-old opponent. In the eighth round, Suganob landed a devastating overhand right that sent Baleni to the canvas, forcing him to take a knee. Recognizing his fighter's distress, Baleni's coach Jake Khangelani threw in the towel to protect his athlete, prompting the referee to officially halt the contest at 39 seconds of the round.
With this victory, Suganob improved his professional record to 18 wins and 1 loss, with 7 knockouts. Baleni's record now stands at 21 wins, 9 losses, and 2 draws.
Immediate Call-Out for World Champion Rene Santiago
Following his impressive win, Suganob wasted no time in calling out current world champion Rene Santiago, who holds both the WBO and WBA light-flyweight titles. Suganob expressed frustration over previous failed negotiations, revealing he had taken an extended break from boxing while attempting to secure a match with Santiago.
Currently ranked No. 3 by the WBO, No. 5 by the IBF, and No. 6 by the WBC, Suganob and his team are prepared to host the potential title fight in Bohol. Should a championship bout not materialize promptly, they plan to pursue an IBF eliminator match to secure an official challenger position.
Supporting Bouts Feature Exciting Action
The event featured several compelling undercard matches that kept the Bohol crowd engaged:
- Eman Bacosa Pacquiao maintained his undefeated streak with a fourth-round stoppage of Indonesia's Reynold Kundimang. The son of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao dropped his opponent five times before finishing the fight with a powerful body shot at 2:26 of Round 4.
- Joseph Sumabong scored a sixth-round knockout over Roland Toyogon, ending the contest with a punishing left hook to the body.
- Additional results included Christian Balunan's second-round knockout of Roldan Sasan, unanimous decision victories for Shane Gentallan and Leonard Pores III, a first-round knockout by Reymart Tagacanao, and unanimous decision wins for Jericho Acaylar and Jick-Kier Autida.
The "Kumong Bol-anon XXIV" event demonstrated Bohol's growing prominence in the boxing world while solidifying Regie Suganob's position as a serious contender for world championship honors.
