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July Title Fight Recaps Cont.
IBF Featherweight: Champion Vicente Saldivar (6-0, 5 KO) vs #7 Luisito Espinosa (2-3, 1 KO)
Espinosa had lost 3 straight before stopping Enrique Sanchez in May. That win made him someone the thus-far dominant Saldivar figured he could take some credit for beating.
And so he does...no reason for round-by-round here. No drama. Saldivar pummels Espinosa from the opening bell, until late in the 4th when hook follows up some outstanding body work to drop Espinosa to the mat. Overmatched, he decides it's much more comfortable to stay there.
By knockout at 2:44 of round 4, and STILL IBF FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION...VICENTE SALDIVAR!!!!
Vicente Saldivar KO 4 Luisito Espinosa
IBF Jr. Featherweight: Champion Jeff Fenech (4-0, 2 KO) vs unranked Jesse Benavides (1-2)
The tough Aussie Fenech finally decides to step in and defend, hand-picking Benavides for his first defense. Fenech throws twice as many punches, but Benavides hangs in there with him. Surprisingly, the bout goes the distance, and the gap in the score is primarily because of Fenech's domination in the last 5 rounds, which he swept on all cards, with a 10-8 in the 12th. Not his best effort, but against Benavides, he didn't need it.
The winner by unanimous decision, and STILL IBF JR. FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION....JEFF FENECH!!!
Jeff Fenech UD 15 Jesse Benavides (149-136, 147-138, 146-139)
That concludes the title fight recaps for July. 7 defenses, 1 changes hands...Rosario over O'Grady.
GH
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