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NIETES RETAINS CROWN, GORRES WINS BY TKO


PhilBoxing.com




TEPIC, Nayarit -- WBO minimumweight champion Donnie 'Ahas' Nietes of the Philippines successfully defended his title winning by split decision over tough challenger Manuel 'Chango' Vargas of Jalisco, Mexico at the El Palenque de la Feria in front of rabid Mexican fans here. Two judges scored the bout 116-112, 118-110 for Nietes and a third judge had it 116-112 for Vargas. PhilBoxing.com had it 115-113 for Nietes.

After a feeling out first round, the fireworks started in the second round when Vargas takes the offensive, throwing bombs at Nietes which the sleek Filipino deftly defended. Exchanges in the third round saw both fighters hitting and receving at the same time that signals a very close contest ahead. The fourth round saw Nietes landed an overhand right that momentarily wobbled Vargas, but showing his Mexican heart, Vagas instead kept charging on. The remainder of the fight saw a charging Vargas trying to overpower Nietes but Nietes adopted a counter-punching stance that saw him landed more effective punches that got the nod of the two judges. Many of the rounds were difficult to score. A hard low blow by Vargas in the ninth round momentarily stopped the action for a few minutes as Nietes was trying to recuperate.

"By playing smart you won the fight tonight," promoter Sampson 'Picasso' Lewkowicz told Nietes after the fight.

A sellout crowd booed rabidly the decision but many Mexicans congratulated Nietes on the way out of the Arena.

"His punches are not the strong. Ramirez was much stronger," Nietes said after the fight. "But he's got good defense so I tried to time my punches."

Nietes has now successfully defended his title three times, two inside Mexican territory as he upped his record to 25-1-3 (14KO). Vargas dropped to 26-4-1 (11KO) and also lost his WBO Interim minimumweight title.

Top photo: Team ALA whoops it up after Nietes' victory.


Nietes on the offensive.


Gorres sets up a punch against Carbajal.


Gorres wins.

GORRES WON BY TKO

Bantamweight contender Z 'The Dream' Gorres won by 6th round TKO over rough Mexican Cruz Carbajal of Veracruz, Mexico. Carbajal refused to come out in the sixth round when he was massaging his left arm which appeared to be hurt. Gorres tagged Carbajal in the first round with an overhead right that wobbled the Mexican. A charging Carbajal cut Gorres in the right eye by a headbutt in the second round. The sleek punching Gorres tagged Carbajal with clean punches but couldn't put away his bull-strong opponent. Carbajal had his moments when he hit Gorres with right straights that appear to hurt Gorres on ocassions. What developed to be a good fight was cut short when Carbajal's corner refused to go out in the sixth round.

"My timing was a little bit off," Gorres said afterwards whose last fight was 7 months ago against Roberto Carlos Leyva at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City. "It's really different when you haven't fought for a while. You are not as sharp as you want to be."

Gorres has now improved to 30-2-2 (17KO) and is looking to fight again on November 13 in Las Vegas.

In the main bout of the evening, the 'Son of a Legend' Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (40-0-1 30KO) of Culiacan, Mexico, finished off Jason LeHoullier (21-2-1, 8KO) of the United States at 2:42 of the first round with a barrage of punches. Chavez, Jr. is now targeting John Duddy next.

MONTIEL UPSET

Fernando Montiel (39-2-2, 29 KO) of Los Mochis, Mexico, considered one of the finest fighters in the sport, got the upset axe when he lost to the unheralded Alejandro Valde (21-3-3, 15KO) of Sonora, Mexico by third round TKO. Montiel dropped Valdez in the first round but Montiel was also cut by Valdez in same round with a punch. In round two, Valdez returned the favor by decking Montiel. Due to Montiel's cut, the bout was stopped at the start of the fourth round where it was originally declared that the result was a draw but was later changed to a 3rd round TKO victory for Valdez.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


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