Benavides Triumphant!!
Last night
Jesse Benavides (19-0-1-14) and
Soo-Hawn Hong (18-1-0-0) squared off for the vacant IBF Jr Featherweight Championship of the world. After fifteen freulling rounds Benavides walked away with a hard earned unanimous decision. Benavides was coming into the match off a ten round unanimous decision victory over Derrick Holmes. While Hong won a ten round split decision over Valerio Nati back in April. Hong started quickly taking the first round as he was able to keep Benavides at bay with a sharp jab. Benavides continued his pressure in the second round and edged a very close round. Benavides was warned for a head butt just before the bell. Benavides rocked Hong badly in the third with a wicked right hand. Hong was able to stay out of harms way for the remainder of the round. Over the next two rounds Hong was able to get himself back into the fight by using superior boxing skills. He pasted Benavides with great two punch combos. After five I had it 48-48. Benavides would win the next two rounds as he was able to trap Hong along the ropes and land some great punches. Hong looked worse for wear as the eighth round began. Benavides continued his forward pressure and again late in the round exploded a huge right hand off Hong’s jaw but this time Hong stood his ground and fired right back. Hong gained confidence in the eighth that carried over to the ninth as he pasted Benavides with rights and lefts and as the ninth round came to a close Benavides had noticeable swelling under the right eye. As the tenth frame started it was now Benavides who was looking tired. Exhausted or not Benavides and Hong waged war in the tenth. Hong not known as a big puncher stood and traded in the center of the ring with Benavides and landed some telling blows. Benavides undeterred fired right back and as the round came to a close the crowd was on it’s feet. This would be Hong’s last stand as the eleventh round started you could see Benavides was still stronger then Hong and Benavides shut out Hong over the last five rounds of the bout. I had the bout scored 146-140 for Benavides. The official scores were in line with what I scored two judges scored it exactly as I did 146-140 while the third scored it 147-139.
The next match a WBA title eliminator pitted
HiroakiYokota (21-1-1-5) against
Segio Palma (20-0-0-3). Yokota’s night got off to a bad start when the first blow landed by Palma opened a horrific gash over his nose. This seemed to take Yokota out of his rhythm as he never got on track and Palma easily out boxed Yokota over the first four rounds. Yokota’s troubles continued in the fifth as a Palma right hand reopened the cut over his nose. The ref halted the action to have the ringside physician take a look. The bout continued and again Palma just dominated Yokota. The sixth was looking much like the previous five rounds when again Palma landed a hook that covered Yokota’s face in blood. This time the ringside physician had seen enough and awarded Palma the TKO victory. Palma looked impressive and has now set himself up for a match versus WBA Champion Jaime Garza.
The undercard featured
Snappy Asano (8-4-1-1) who won an eight round unanimous decision over TC
Tabito Yamada (1-5-0-1). This is Asano’s second victory this year after starting the year off on a loss. The night began with
Freddy Cruz (2-0-1-0) winning a four round unanimous decision over TC
Antonio Cruz (0-6-1-0). Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37.
Jr Featherweight News
Next Month
Derrick Holmes (12-4-0-4) will face
Mike Ayala (18-2-0-10) for the vacant NABF Jr Featherweight Title. On the undercard
Loris Stecca (14-0-0-10) will face
Wilfredo Gomez (15-0-0-14) in a WBC Title Eliminator with the winner to face Jeff Fenech.
Jr Featherweight Rankings June 86
Jaime Garza (23-0-0-21) WBA
Jeff Fenech (18-0-0-16) WBC
Jesse Benavides (19-0-1-14) IBF
Sergio Palma (20-0-0-3)
Fabrice Benichou(21-1-0-12)
Victor Callajes (18-1-0-17)
Hiroaki Yokota (21-1-1-5)
Wilfredo Gomez (15-0-0-14)
Loris Stecca (14-0-0-10)
Soo-Hwan Hong (18-1-0-0)