Dasmariñas coming on strong

SPORTING CHANCE

- By JOAQUIN M. HENSON

Michael Dasmariñas made his mark in boxing history as one of Naoya Inoue's victims and it's a stain that drives him to keep fighting for redemption.

It was in 2021 when Dasmariñas ventured to Las Vegas and challenged the Japanese "Monster" with the super WBA and IBF bantamweight belts at stake.

Inoue dropped Dasmariñas thrice with body shots and registered a third-round KO win, leaving the Filipino writhing in pain on the canvas.

Since the debacle, Dasmariñas has gone unbeaten in seven bouts, five by KO. Last weekend, he decked Belize fighter Eduardo (El Mecanico) Esquivel twice in the first round before the bout was called off in the Cayman Islands.

Dasmariñas' record is now 36-3-2, with 25 KOs and his only losses were to Inoue, Lwandile Sityatha on a split decision in South Africa in 2014 and Marbon Bodiongan on a second-round KO in Zambales in 2012.