Marquez dethrones Barrera!
Saturday, March 17 2007
By Albert Howell at ringside
Photos: Chris Cozzone
In a battle between two of Mexico's best, WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez (47-3-1, 35 KOs) took the WBC super featherweight title from defending champion Marco Antonio Barrera (63-5, 42 KOs) on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Resort Casino in Las Vegas. Barrera seemingly had the edge over the first half of the fight. In a controversial round seven, Marquez rocked Barrera and had him in trouble. Suddenly a big Barrera right hand dropped Marquez. He then walked over and hit Marquez with a right hand while he was down. Referee Jay Nady did not credit Barrera with a knockdown and deducted a point from Barrera for the foul. Down the stretch, Marquez often beat Barrera to the punch and won by scores of 118-109, 116-111, 116-111.
WBO super bantamweight champion Daniel Ponce de Leon (31-1, 28 KOs) outworked classy former flyweight champ Gerry Penalosa (51-6-2, 35 KOs) over twelve tough rounds to win a unanimous decision and retain his title by scores of 119-109, 119-109, 120-108.
In a defense of his USBA jr. welterweight belt, Demetrius Hopkins (26-0-1, 10 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over former world champion and "Contender" finalist Steve Forbes (32-5, 9 KOs). It seemed like Forbes outworked Hopkins in most rounds, however two judges gave Forbes only two rounds while the third gave Forbes three rounds. Scores were 118-110, 118-110, 117-111.
Bantamweight bomber Diasdado Gabi (29-3-1, 21 KOs) scored a second round TKO over Antonio Maria Cochero (17-5-1, 13 KOs). A right hand put Cochero on the deck and the bout was waved off at 2:59.
Flyweight Sergio Espinoza (14-2-1, 5 KOs) scored an upset ten round decision Juan Alberto Rosas (25-2, 22 KOs). Scores were 97-91, 97-91, 96-92. Rosas was deducted two points for fouls in round eight.
Other Results
Eduardo Escobedo KO3(1:43) Edel Ruiz 126 (featherweight)
Anthony Martinez TKO2(1:28) Jesus Villareal (welterweight)
Ashanti Jordan KO1(1:45) Eric Molina (heavyweight)
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