Golden Boy Promotions and HBO PPV gave last night’s viewers, a jam packed night full of excitement, at the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Newly crowned WBC Super Featherweight Champion Juan Manuel Marquez, 47-3-1, 35 KO’s, took the fight to Marco Antonio Barrera, 63-5, 42 KO’s, for a majority of the night and earned a worthy unanimous decision. Regardless of the scoring, both champions earned respect for each other, the hard way.
Early in the fight it was mostly Barrera, trying to set things up, and get it going his way. He landed a lot to the head and body, but it wouldn’t stop Marquez from throwing a body blow back, even if he had to take a punch or two. In the middle rounds Marquez began to pick up the pace and land more. With a defensive Barrera covering up, Marquez landed more punishing body blows, breaking down the Mexican warrior’s line of defense. Barrera never gave up and in the seventh round, knocked down Marquez with a right hand. However, a point was taken away by Referee Jay Nady, when Barrera walked over and landed another punishing blow to Marquez, as he was down. It was also ruled a no knockdown by Referee Nady, which makes it now a controversial ruling. You judge?
The championship rounds turned to Marquez’s favor, as he worked a tired Barrera for the last three rounds. Marquez landed cleaner punches and was faster than Barrera, caching him more frequently. Both Mexican champions opened up and gave their heart and soul in this battle. In the end the judges scored it 118-109 and 116-111 twice. It was all it was expected to be and the fans should be happy with a great fight of two world champions.
The co-feature had undefeated USBA Junior Welterweight Champion, Demetrius Hopkins, 26-0-1, 10 KO’s, putting on a great display of family skills, as he won a unanimous decision over former IBF Super Featherweight Champion, Steve Forbes, 32-5, 9 KO’s. Judges scored it 118-110 twice and 117-111. It looked as if Forbes had done more to deserve a closer score, but none the less, it was Hopkins who deserved the decision.
WBO/IBA Super Bantamweight Champion, Daniel Ponce De Leon, 31-1, 28 KO’s, retained his titles when he won a unanimous decision over former WBC Super Flyweight Champion, Gerry Penalosa, 51-6-2, 34 KO’s, in ten slick rounds. Judges scored it 120-108 and 119-109 twice, for Ponce De Leon.
Bantamweight Diosdado Gabi, 29-3-1, 21 KO’s, finished the job with one second left in the second round over quick replacement Antonio Cochero, 7-4, 5 KO’s. It was stopped at 2:59 of the second round. Oscar Andrade, 35-25-1, 18 KO’s, was scheduled to fight Gabi originally.
Super Flyweight Sergio Espinoza, 14-2-1, 5 KO’s, upset the favored Juan Alberto Rosas, 25-2, 22 KO’s, over ten, mostly one sided rounds. Rosas frustration ended up causing him two points for rough tactics in round eight. The judges scored it 97-91 twice and 96-92, for Espinoza.
Featherweight Eduardo Escobedo, 19-2, 12 KO’s, took out Edel Ruiz, 28-17-4, 19 KO’s, at 1:43 of the third round.
Two heavyweights making their professional debut, only one could win, and it was Ashanti Jordan, 1-0, 1 KO, with a TKO at 1:45 of the first round over Eric Molina, 0-1.
Welterweight Anthony Martinez, 2-0, 2 KO’s, put a beat down on Jesus Villareal, 1-1-1, to win by TKO at 1:28 of the second round.
