Puerto Rico earned yet another world champion this year as Alberto “Explosivo” Machado (19-0, 16 KOs) knocked out Jezreel “El Invisible” Corrales (22-2, 8 KOs) in the eighth round of a scheduled 12-round fight to become the WBA World Super Featherweight Champion at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, N.Y. Along with Miguel Cotto and Jesus Rojas, Machado is the third boxer from Puerto Rico to win a world title within the past two months. (Photo Credit: Matt Heasley – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions)
In what was a hard-fought battle between two southpaws, Corrales earned an early advantage by being much quicker and skillful. The native of San Miguelito, Panama also landed hard overhand lefts repeatedly, eventually dropping Machado with that same punch in the fifth round. Little by little, though, Machado’s size and strength advantages began taking a toll on Corrales, who was hurt by a right hook in round six.
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