StubHub Center, Carson, California – Former two division world champion Timothy Bradley (32-1-1, 12KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9KOs) to win the interim-WBO welterweight title. The scores were 116-112, 117-111 and 115-112.
The early rounds were close. Bradley was taking the fight to Vargas and loading up real big on his punches. He was catching Vargas with some very telling punches when they got up close.
Vargas was throwing a decent jab with not much coming along with that jab. Bradley was outworking Vargas in spot after spot, pushing the tempo and throwing a lot of shots.
Vargas was not active enough and not strong enough to make a dent on Bradley for most of the contest. He would land an occasional flush shot – but Bradley was able to take them – until the final round.
After losing most of the twelfth, Vargas finally rocked Bradley’s chin with a hard shot that buckled the legs of “Desert Storm.” Vargas tried to finish him off and it appeared that referee Pat Russell waved off the fight after mistakenly thinking he heard the bell. There was some confusion where Vargas thought he won by TKO. The referee made it clear the fight was not stopped, that he mistakenly thought he heard the bell and stopped the round early.
