17.09.06 – By Sean Ocampo: It wasn’t a razor thin decision win like the first fight. But it was a much sweeter win for WBC Super Featherweight Champion Marco Antonio Barrera as he beat the tough Rocky Juarez by a convincing Unanimous Decision. The win marks the 63rd win of Barrera’s legendary career.
Like legend that he is, Barrera was able to find a way to beat the younger Juarez. He was able to use his jab well and performed a nearly one-sided jabbing clinic to his worthy opponent. The veteran champion outsmarted Juarez by not engaging to Juarez’s trap of going toe-to-toe. Barrera kept the fight in middle of the ring wherein he has major reach and speed advantage. He completely out boxed the much stronger challenger. The perfection of his game plan was able to propel him to a deserving victory..
Juarez will now drop his second straight defeat to the hands of the Mexican legend. His inability to engage Barrera to free for all fight prompted his defeat. Juarez is now planning to go down again to his original weight class which is the Featherweight division.
Team Barrera is now looking for a possible fight with the winner of the Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao versus Erik “El Terrible” Morales rubber match this coming November. Both of these fighters own single victories over Barrera. However, Barrera took two straight fights in his trilogy with Morales. But still not able avenge his 2003 TKO defeat over the Pacman.
In other fights, Joan Guzman beats Jorge Barrios by a controversial split decision. The scores were 114-113 Barrios 114-113 Guzman 115-112 Guzman. The fight’s tempo was clearly controlled by the Argentine and was the aggressor of the fight. However, Guzman’s few but accurate shots caught the eyes of the judges. The questionable deduction of referee Vic Drakulich to Barrios for low blow caused dearly for the stripped WBO Champion. If the deduction did not occurred the fight could have been declared a majority draw.
Super Batamweight Israel Vazquez won a dramatic 10th round TKO victory over WBO Batamweight Champion Jhonny Gonzalez in their 12 round championship affair. Vazquez was bothered by Gonzalez’s reach and height in the early going. He was down once in the 4th and the 6th. But fought his way back in the next round and was able to knock Gonzalez once in the 7th round. Finally, in the 10th round Vazquez scored a devastating knock down that prompted Gonzalez’s corner to throw in the towel. Gonzalez was ahead in all three judges scorecards prior to the stoppage.
Jorge Paez Jr., son of former world champion Jorge Paez, won a controversial majority decision over Derrick Campos. Paez was stunned in the early going of the fight but picked himself up in the 2nd round by scoring a knockdown. During the final seconds of the final round, when Paez in what appears to be cruising to a victory was suddenly shocked and knocked down by a left hook of Campos. Two judges scored the fight 38-36 in favor of Paez while the other one scored it even at 37 a piece.