Mexico’s middleweight hopeful Gilberto “Lefty” Ramirez kept his undefeated record and his World Boxing Council (WBC) Youth title by a unanimous decision (97-93, 100-90 and 100-91) over Costa Rican veteran Jaime “El Indio” Barboza , tonight at the Municipal Auditorium in Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico.
Ramirez’s accuracy, fast pace and strength in the first part of the fight, led to a broad lead in the score cards as the Mazatlan fighter tried to knock out the opponent, Barbosa not only endured the early barrage of punches, but took advantage of Ramirez tiring towards the late rounds, where he was able to land a few punches of his own, not enough to change the tide of the fight and not with enough power to stop the 20 year old.
It was Ramirez fourth defense of his title.
“I might have tried too hard to knock out Barobosa since the beginning of the fight and that cost me a little at the end. But I think that a fight like this gives me the experience that will be helpful in future fights”, said Ramirez after the fight.
Victor Terrazas KO’s Jose Palma
A flashing right from Victor “Viking” Terrazas let Colombian Jose Palma, on the canvas and flat in his back in a fight stopped at 57 seconds into the fourth round as part of the ROAD TO GLORY card.
Terrazas once again showed its power over a South American who gave a great account of himself until the lighting fast punch ended the toe-to-toe brawl.
With the victory, Terrazas kept his WBC Silver Championship title and will now await the winner of Abner Mares against Eric Morel who will fight for the world featherweight title next week.
Victor Terrazas is now 34 -2 -1 (9 KO’s) while Jose Palma fell to 15-6-2 with 10 knockouts.
OTHER RESULTS
In other matches, Alan “Explosive” Herrera KOed Isaiah Cabrera in 1 round in al lightweight fight. Jesus “Negrito” Silvestre KO Marvin Diaz in 2 in the super flyweight division, Carlos Diaz beat Alfredo Diaz (no relation) on points at 126 pounds and Cesar Ramirez also beat Jonathan Covarrubias on points in a featherweight match.
IABA UPDATE (IRELAND OFF TO A WINNING START AT AIBA OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS)
April 15th
IRISH AMATEUR BOXING ASSOCIATION
Joe Ward and David Oliver Joyce got Ireland off to a winning start on the opening day of the AIBA Olympic qualifiers in Trabzon, Turkey.
Ward, the current European light-heavyweight champion, recorded a 16-6 win over experienced Swedish light-heavyweight Kennedy Katende tonight.
And St Michael’s Athy lightweight Joyce had his hand raised in victory after Joe Cordina of Wales was retired by his own corner after taking two standing counts in the third.
Joyce was 10-4 down after the first round but turned things around in spectacular style in the second to command a 17-14 lead going into the third and final frame.
Ward will now meet Bahran Muzaffer of Turkey, who Ken Egan beat en route to silver at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing, in the last-16 tomorrow, while Joyce faces Germany’s Arthur Bril in the last-16 on Tuesday in a repeat of the recent Chemistry Cup quarter-final which Joyce won on a countback following a 16-16 tie in Germany.
Irish head coach Billy Walsh said that they were delighted to get off to a winning start.
“It’s a great boost to the rest of the squad to make a winning start and it will give the squad confidence going into their contests. David was 10-4 down after the first but he produced a fantastic second round and really turned it around, said Walsh.
“Joe was in against a very experienced opponent and it was a fine win. He was in control and he did what he had to do.”
Ward, Ross Hickey, Adam Nolan, Tommy McCarthy and Con Sheehan will be in action tomorrow.
Paddy Barnes received a bye into the last-16 and will between the ropes Tuesday.
The Trabzon tournament is the final AIBA Olympic qualifier for Europe’s male boxers.
AIBA European Olympic Qualifiers Trabzon, Turkey
April 15th (Evening) (last 32)
60kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) beat Joe Cordina (Wales) RET3
81kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) beat Kennedy Katende (Sweden) 16-6
April 16th (Afternoon) (last 16)
64kg: Ross Hickey (Ireland) v Dimitri Galagot (Moldova)
69kg: Adam Nolan (Ireland) v Thomasz Kot (Poland)
April 16th (Evening) (last 16)
81kg: Joe Ward (Ireland) v Bahran Muzaffer (Turkey)
91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Ireland) v Copla Alem (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
91+kg: Con Sheehan (Ireland) v Muhammet Erkan Aci (Turkey)
April 17th (Evening) (last 16)
49Kg: Paddy Barnes (Ireland) v Istvan Ungvari (Hungary)
60kg: David Oliver Joyce (Ireland) v Arthur Bril (Germany)
Irish squad
49kg: Paddy Barnes (Holy Family GG)
60kg; David Oliver Joyce (St Michael’s Athy)
64kg: Ross Hickey (Grangecon)
69kg: Adam Nolan (Bray)
81kg: Joe Ward (Moate)
91kg: Tommy McCarthy (Oliver Plunkett)
91+kg: Con Sheehan (Clonmel)