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Mayweather defeats De La Hoya!

Saturday, May 5 2007

Bautista, Juarez victorious

By Mike Sloan and Victor Perea at ringside
Photo: Naoki Fukuda
WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr (38-0, 24 KOs) won a twelve round split decision over WBC super welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya (38-5, 30 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Floyd had the edge in a slow round one, but De La Hoya upped the pressure to win round two. After an opening flurry in round three, Oscar wasn't as aggressive and Floyd picked him apart. De La Hoya landed about a dozen body shots in succession while Floyd was on the ropes in round four. Both fighters scored in round five, with Floyd getting the better of it. Oscar connected well in round six, plus showed some defensive skills making Floyd miss wildly several times. Oscar effectively used his jab and outworked Floyd in the seventh. Oscar flurried at the end of the eighth to possibly steal a close round. Mayweather landed the most meaningful punches in the ninth and tenth, as Oscar grew fatigued and inexplicably abandoned his jab.Floyd also mostly dominated the eleventh, but Oscar landed the best punch of the round. Both fighters traded punches to end the fight. Scores were 116-112, 115-113 Mayweather, 115-113 De La Hoya.

WBC #5/WBA #6/IBF #7 super featherweight Rocky Juarez (26-3, 19 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Jose Hernandez (22-3, 14 KOs) to claim the WBA's Fedelatin title. Juarez dropped Hernandez in round two with a flush right hand, but had more trouble than expected against the busier Hernandez. Scores were 115-112, 116-111, 117-110.

In an action-packed WBO super bantamweight eliminator, undefeated #1 rated Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista (23-0, 17 KOs) earned a mandatory shot at champion Daniel Ponce De Leon with a unanimous decison over previously unbeaten #2 Sergio Medina (28-1, 22 KOs). In round five, Bautista was deducted a point for a low blow by referee Robert Byrd. He got that point back by dropping Medina in the following round. In round seven, Medina staggered Bautista and was credited with a knockdown when Bautista hung onto the ropes to keep from going down. The standing eight may have saved Bautista, and Medina didn't follow up to finish him. Bautista was able to clear his head and regain control, again dropping Medina in the eleventh. Scores were 115-109, 116-108, 115-109.

Super flyweight Alex Banal (13-0-1) won an eight round unanimous decision over Juan Rosas (25-3). Scores were 78-73, 78-73, 76-75.

Unbeaten super featherweight buzzsaw Billy Dib (16-0) outworked Jose Alberto Gonzalez (14-4) over eight rounds to claim a 78-74, 78-74, 77-75 win.

Unbeaten lightweight John Murray (21-0) scored a seventh round TKO over Lorenzo Bethea (6-5). Time was :28 when Bethea's corner threw in the towel.

In an upset, welterweight Christian Solano (20-11-4) knocked out previously unbeaten John O'Donnell (15-1). Solano dropped O'Donnell late in the first round with a left hook, then in the following round another left hook sent O'Donnell to the canvas face first. Time was 1:50.

Lightweights Ernest Johnson (16-2-1) and Hector Beltran (10-1-1) fought to a lackluster eight round draw. Scores were 77-74, 77-75, 76-76.

Unbeaten cruiserweight Carlos Duarte (6-0) scored a second round TKO over pro debuting Calvin Rooks. Time was 1:54.

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