Three time Southeast Asian Games  silver medalist and Manabo, Abra pride Renalyn Dacquel floored former World Boxing Association – Oceana light flyweight champion Sarah Higginson in the first round to win via unanimous decision in the Astrodome 43 in Northbridge, Western Australia.

The Phnom Phen silver medalist in kickboxing won for the first time since her last fight in May 12, 2019 right before her SEAG Manila fight where she took home a silver medal.

It was the toughest fight for the 25 year old Manila resident, who was under the Highland Boxing Gym in her first three fights where she recorded a 2-1 win-loss slate.

After losing to fellow kickboxer Gretel de Paz, who gave Philippines a gold medal in the sport in Phnom Phen, in her initial outing in May 4, 2017, Dacquel won via TKO in her second fight six months later against fellow Cordilleran Kathleen Paptie of Itogon, Benguet.

Against Nanako Suzuki, Dacquel went the distance and settled for a unanimous decision win at the Wanchai Convention in Hong Kong.

The younger sibling of former World Boxing Council – OPBF super flyweight champion Rene Dacquel (20-6) who introduced him to the sport, was sharp in her fight against the Perth native whom she dominated from the get go driving to the corner and raining down punches before the referee stopped momentarily the two fighters just 40 seconds in the fight.

Dacquel then went on to knock Higginson anew with 16 seconds remaining in the first round and when the fight resumed, the Aussie found herself hugging the canvas anew.

Dacquel won the gold in the Asian Kickboxing Championships December last year in Bangkok, Thailand. She then went on to win a silver medal in the 2023 SEAG in the Cambodian capital Phnom Phen, her third straight in the biennial meet.

Higginson (4-4-1), meanwhile, defeated Charimae Salvador in September 2 last year to win the WBA-Oceana belt but lost it the belt to Mai Soliman via TKO in March 15 this year. Pigeon Lobien