Earlier tonight at the Marquee Ballroom at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada, WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Noshioka fended off a spirited effort from former champion Rafael Marquez to successfully defend his crown. Nishioka has success in using a quick, sharp left hand that landed repeatedly and came on strong in the championship rounds to pull out unanimous decision by scores of 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113, respectively.
There were definitely some notable names in the building, including bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, who is being pegged by Top Rank promoter Bob Arum as a future foe for Nishioka sometime in 2012. Others in attendance included former welterweight champ Ricardo Mayorga, WBO super bantamweight champion Jorge Arce, former champions Johnny Tapia and Marco Antonio Barrera, legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., the fighting Magdalenos from Las Vegas, and several others.
For an inside look at the all the action, including Donaire and Arce being chummy, intense action shots from the Nishioka-Marquez bout, behind-the-scenes bonus shots from the post-fight presser, and WBA junior flyweight champion Roman Gonzalez scoring a knockout, please visit the slideshow on the left?
