In an upset, Liam Paro (25-0, 15 KOs) beat IBF light welterweight champion Subriel Matias (20-2, 20 KOs by a 12-round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Coliseo Juan Aubin Cruz Abreu in Manati, Puerto Rico.
The judges’ scores were 115-112, 115-112 and 116-111. Paro did a lot of holding, shoving, and mauling to keep Matias from getting his shots off.
In the seventh, Paro was docked a point, and he probably should have been penalized more for the excessive clinching, which, on the level of a heavyweight contest, had a major impact on the outcome of the fight.
Alfredo Santiago claimed a decisive victory over Angel Fierro in a ten-round bout for the WBO NABO super lightweight title. Santiago, who now boasts a record of 15-2 with 6 KOs, delivered a masterclass performance, earning unanimous decision scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 98-92 against Fierro, a top contender with a record of 22-22 and 17 KOs.
Adding to the night’s triumphs, Olympian Yankiel Rivera continued his ascent in professional boxing, maintaining his unbeaten streak. Rivera (6-0, 2 KOs) scored a ten-round unanimous decision over the seasoned Victor Sandoval (37-5, 23 KOs) in a fight for the WBC, WBA Continental Americas, and WBO Intercontinental flyweight titles. Rivera put Sandoval on the canvas in the second round, setting the tone for the fight, and ultimately secured victory with judges’ scores of 98-91, 98-91, and 97-92.
