After a four-year hiatus from boxing, Renz Dacquel sprang back stronger after defeating former World Boxing Association Champion Sarah Higginson in a non-title bout in Thunderdome 43 Dragon Fire International light flyweight held in Perth, Australia, Sept. 1.
The 25-year-old Dacquel easily demo-lished her opponent in the first 30 seconds of their bout, raining down Higginson with combination punches and the right hook that sent her foe reeling, which caused the referee to step in.
After allowing Higginson to breathe, the fight resumed but Dacquel’s power punches did not allow her opponent to regain footing and got knocked down twice, before the re-feree called the fight off by the one minute, 10 seconds mark of round one.
Fight announcers, who were initially talking about the tough training that Higginson received prior the fight, were left stunned on the quick turn of events for their home girl to lose over the Filipino boxer from Manabo, Abra.
Dacquel has three wins, two by way of knockout and one loss while Higginson dropped to four wins, one by way of KO, and four losses and one draw.
The orthodox lightweight champ was also successful in her last bout in 2019, when she defeated Japanese Nanako Suzuki through a unanimous decision in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.
Her first win was in 2017, when she defeated Kathleen Paptie in the La Trinidad, Benguet fight via technical knockout, bouncing from her defeat six months prior, after losing to Gretel de Paz in the Santa Cruz, Manila fight in her pro-boxing debut.
Aside from boxing, Dacquel is also the current Asian kickboxing gold me-dalist in 52-kilogram low kick category, a silver medalist in the 32nd Southeast Games in Cambodia.
The well-rounded fighter is also the lone kickboxer to qualify in the World Games 2023 to be held in Saudi Arabia later this year. – Ofelia C. Empian
