MALCOLM “Eagle Eye” Tunacao, a former world flyweight champion, recaptured his Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) bantamweight title with a split decision win over South Korea’s Seung Suk Chae in Mungyoeng, southeast of the capital of Seoul.

According to philboxing.com’s Sunday report, the 31-year-old southpaw Tunacao had a hard time against the tough 30-year-old Korean but the Filipino still managed to beat his opponent. Tunacao was World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion from May 19, 2000 to March 2, 2001.

They battled for the title relinquished by champion Alexander Bakhtin of Russia on October 9. Bakhtin faces Nick Otieno in a WBC bantamweight title eliminator in Russia on February 22.

Tunacao, who trained at the ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer, also sparred in Japan with WBC world champion Hozumi Hasegawa on two visits to Tokyo.

Tunacao regained the OPBF title he lost to fellow Filipino Rolly Lunas who used the name Rolly Matsushita when he was managed by a Japanese.

The Filipino set up the title shot after scoring an 8th round unanimous decision over Takuto Nanba on July 14, 2009 while Seung Suk Chae scored a ninth round technical knockout over Sung Young Lee on July 25, 2009.

With the loss, the Korean bantamweight champion dropped to 16-2 with 6 knockouts while Tunacao improved to 25-2-3 with 15 stoppages.

--Josef T. Ramos

The Manila Times