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Straw Semi Finals
(IBO & WBA) Yutaka Niida 22-1-2 (6) vs Ivan Calderon 42-1-1 (10)
Rematch: Calderon UD10
Ivan continued to defend his title in style as he boxed brilliantly behind his southpaw jab and befuddling defense, Niida occasionally landed with hard left hands and took a couple of rounds but the scoring was, frankly, closer than the fight as the Puerto Rican advanced to the finals again with a dominant UD. 118-111, 117-111 & 115-113
(IBF, WBC & WBO) Ricardo Lopez 44-0 (35) vs Ratanapol Sor Vorapin 22-1-1 (13)
Rematch: Lopez TKO11
The Thai fighter once again met his rival and decided that pure aggression was the only way to overcome the technical prowess of Lopez so he exploded after him and landed a hard left hand before Lopez countered with a wicked uppercut and two hooks that put Sor Vorapin on his heels, Finito erupted with his prodigious arsenal and clocked Ratanapol with shot after shot until a violent hook exploded off his chin and put Sor Vorapin flat on his back where the referee went through the formality of the ten count and gave Lopez his much desired return foray with Calderon in the finals.
They are both on top of their game and we'll see if Calderon can hold off the vengeance of Finito, who most of us thought deserved the decision in the first nerd final.
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