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Photos by: Tom Casino/Showtime



by:

Joshuwa
"Ashyknuckles"
Jernigan

The 32-year-old champion Miguel Acosta, (28 - 4, 22KOs), had the early edge over Rios by utilizing his great lateral movement and counter punching ability. Acosta evaded big shots by moving around the ring and landing crisp, hard punches to the head of the young challenger. Acosta was able to temporarily stall Rios’ game plan by boxing behind a strong jab through the first several rounds. Clearly frustrated, Rios turned up the pressure in round three but was hurt badly by the end of the round. In round four, Acosta became the aggressor as he dictated the pace of the fight, backing Rios up and landing hard combinations to the head and body of the determined Rios.

Robert Garcia was very perturbed by what was going on in the ring as he demanded Rios to use combination punching. He also told Rios to be careful of the champion's traps. Rios got back the game plan of applying smart pressure and forcing Acosta to engage in an inside scrap. Rios, the naturally larger fighter, started swinging his heavy hands and eventually dropped Acosta with a quick jab/short-hook.

Acosta continued to fight on like a champion as he tried to utilize the whole ring with his speed and agility. But Rios relentlessly applied more pressure, cutting off the ring, and bullied Acosta into an inside fight against the ropes. Rios would drop Acosta again in the eighth round with a left hook that sent the champion crashing to the canvas. Acosta would beat the count and fight on.

In the tenth, Rios walked down his prey continually digging the body and timing the champion with crisp hard right hand counters. Acosta tried to fight off the young Rios, but he would eventually succumb to hard combination punching as Joe Cortez waved off the fight at 1:14. With the victory, Rios would become the new WBA lightweight champion. This dominating win sends a message in the lightweight division that Rios is ready to take on the likes of WBC champion Humberto Soto, IBF champion Miguel Vazquez, and WBA Super Champion/WBO champion Juan Manuel Marquez.

De Marco decisions Sanchez

In the first round, Antonio De Marco landed a big straight left hand that opened a cut above Sanchez’ left eye. De Marco looked very sharp early, but the fight would turn sloppy as Sanchez forced De Marco to fight a brawl type of fight. Fighting out of character, De Marco still had the upper hand in hand-speed and skill. Sanchez (20-4-1, 11 KO's), bleeding from his cuts, proceeded to back up De Marco throughout the second half of the fight. Sanchez fought a very determined fight, but his punches were unable to do any damage.

Sanchez kept the fight competitive but eventually lost a unanimous decision by the scores of 116-112, 117-111, 115-113. With the win, De Marco picks up the meaning Silver belt which will more than likely guarantee him a shot at the winner of Urbano Antillon vs Humberto Soto II.