Tunaciao scores upset win over Iannazzo
Daniel Iannazzo (17-1, 6 KOs) is the best super-bantamweight in Australia and is one of the most talented out of the stellar group of lighter-weight fighters that includes the likes of Joel Brunker, Mark Quon and Fred Mundraby. Iannazzo is a headline act in Melbourne but comparatively little known Filipino Allan Jay Tunaciao (10-2-3, 2 KOs) gave Iannazzo all he could handle on Charlie Liparota's Ringside Promotions debut promotion at the Coburg Town Hall and in the process picked up the vacant PABA super-bantamweight title.
Had it not been for some controversial judging, Iannazzo could have earned a draw.
Both fighters started patiently in the first round and that set the stage for an entertaining but cautiously fought out title fight. Iannazzo was generally the aggressor but Tunaciao landed the cleaner shots. Iannazzo threw more punches but Tunaciao was more accurate.
Both fighters demonstrated great skill and heart throughout as well as a great repertoire of taunts. When the scores were totalled after twelve-rounds, it appeared as if the decision could have gone either way and it would have been tough to argue with a draw. Judge Chris Anderson scored the bout 115-113 for Iannazzo, whereas judges Dale Westerman and Aneeka Williams scored the bout 115-113 and 119-109 for Tunaciao who leapt in the air after being announced the winner.
The realisation of a dream for Tunaciao came at the expense of Iannazzo, who many considered the best lighter weight fighter in the country. In the process, Iannazzo also lost his WBO #8 world rating and his WBO Asia Pacific Youth super-bantamweight title.
Iannazzo's loss was the first in his eighteen fight career, ending a seventeen fight win-streak that stretched back almost four years. The fight was also the first time Iannazzo had failed to score a stoppage victory in over twelve months where he had knocked out the previously unbeaten and highly regarded Singaporean prospect Mohammed Nor Rizan as well as Indonesian tough man Rivo Rengkung.
Iannazzo looked much stronger than Tunaciao, while also looking very light and fresh on his feet. However, Iannazzo who is known for his almost relentless work-rate, threw about half as many punches as he did in previous title fights against Rivo Rengkung and Pichitchai Twingym who has been on an impressive win streak since losing to Iannazzo.
Despite being much bigger and stronger, Iannazzo failed to capitalize on his power advantage, with his only main highlight being in the seventh and eighth rounds when he trapped Tunaciao on the ropes while unleashing a vicious flurry of left-hooks to both the head and body.
It will be up to Iannazzo to decide whether or not he will immediately jump into a rematch against Tunaciao or step back and fight the winner of a WBO Asia Pacific and PABA super-bantamweight unification fight between Tunaciao and Kenichi Yamaguchi.