MARCH 2010 TITLE FIGHTS
Welterweight
CHAMP Vernon Forrest (18-2-1, 12 KO) vs #1 Tommy Ryan (15-1-2, 13 KO)
Eight months after a majority draw in their matchup in Forrest's first defense, Forrest prepares to do battle with Ryan again. An even first four rounds give way to a change when Ryan puts Forrest on his back in the fifth. Ryan controls the sixth and drops the champ again in the seventh and it seems we may be nearing the end. But Forrest survives and shows the heart of a champion in the eighth when he returns the favor and puts Ryan on the canvas with a stirring combination. But Ryan escapes the final 20 seconds of the round and regains control, winning the ninth and 10th before dropping Forrest again in the 11th and twice more in the twelfth before referee Raul Caiz Jr. calls a halt, crowning Tommy Ryan as the NEW PBA Welterweight champion by TKO at 2:53 of round 12.
Featherweight
CHAMP Juan Manuel Marquez (18-2-1, 13 KO) vs #2 Chris John (11-1-2, 7 KO)
Marquez takes no break from tough fights, defending only two months after regaining the title from Young Corbett II in a tough split decision victory. But he's put behind the 8 ball early here as he gets a point deducted for a low blow in the opening minute. That climb only gets tougher when a minute later John puts him on the canvas, creating a 10-7 round. John has the better of it over the next two rounds before Marquez starts to find his groove. It could be argued Marquez sweeps rounds 4-10, and he assuredly wins six of the seven. But late in the 11th John puts Marquez down in a shot Marquez's camp argues came after the bell of a round Marquez was winning. The knockdown stands, and the scorecards are likely quite interesting at this point. Marquez pummels John from pillar to post in the 12th, but John regains form and responds well the 13th. The 14th is even as is the 15th, the closing a round an unexpected clinchfest that sends us to the cards. With a 142-141 and 142-140 in his favor with the third card even at 141-141, the winner....and NEW PBA Featherweight champion...CHRIS JOHN!
Jr. Bantamweight
CHAMP Luis Alberto Perez (17-1, 17 KO) vs #8 Ivan Hernandez (15-4, 11 KO)
The fight is closer than the scorecards indicate when in the sixth the bout is stopped because of a cut Hernandez initially suffered in the opening round. Perez leads 49-46 on all cards at the time of the stoppage, but each round was competitive, the champion had just done a bit more. A disappointing end for Hernandez, who was given a title shot from a relatively low position and was acquitting himself well. Perez retains by TKO at 2:34 of the 6th.
GH