Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) – Marco Antonio Barrera retained his WBC super featherweight title as he fought to a draw with challenger Rocky Juarez in a rugged contest, in what proved to be an early fight-of-the-year candidate.
Barrera, a 32-year-old Mexico City native, had won his last four fights entering the bout, but got all he could handle from his 26-year-old challenger and 2000 Olympic silver medalist.
Judge Anek Hongtongkam scored the fight to Barrera, 115-113, while Duane Ford had the same tally in favor of Juarez. Ken Morita scored it 114-114.
Barrera (61-4-1) controlled the first two rounds with a steady and effective jab that opened a small cut over the right eye of the tentative Juarez (25-1-1). In the third round, Juarez landed a big counter left hook that staggered the champion, giving the young challenger a bit of confidence.
Barrera, however, controlled rounds four through seven as he peppered Juarez with a variety of power punches, and fought effectively on the inside.
The heavy-handed Houston native surged in rounds eight through 10 as he stalked Barrera and grew more confident as the rounds went on. Juarez let loose with four and five-punch combinations that wore down the champion and swung the momentum in his favor. He had Barrera hurt in the 10th round by landing a short right uppercut and a solid right hook to the bloodied face of Barrera.
The final two rounds featured toe-to-toe action as Barrera reverted to his brawling style and traded power shots at close range with his hungry young opponent. Both fighters landed hard punches, but neither man backed down, and the final bell sounded with both combatants still swinging.
In the undercard, WBO super featherweight champion Jorge Barrios (46-2-1, 33 KO) stopped previously unbeaten Janos Nagy (24-1, 13 KO) at 49 seconds of the first round to successfully defend his title. The Argentine brawler connected with a hard left hook to the body of the Hungarian southpaw, forcing him to one knee. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. called a halt to the contest just as Nagy finally got to his feet, ending the fight.
Also, Jose Armando Santa Cruz scored a sixth-round technical knockout of Chikashi Inada to win the interim WBC lightweight crown.
