Berchelt Defeats Miura at the Forum

WBC super featherweight champion Miguel "El Alacran" Berchelt (32-1, 28 KOs) of Mexico defeated former world champion number onecontender Takashi Miura (31-4-2, 24 KOs) of Japan, Saturday night at The 'Fabulous' Forum in Inglewood, California on HBO Boxing After Dark.

Berchelt got off to a fast start as he dropped Miura with a opposite right, left, 1-2 combo in the opening round. Working off the jab Berchelt boxed as Miura stalked. The jab worked effectively for Berchelt as he blinded Miura and followed up with big shots but the Japanese fighter landed some thudding punches.

The Mexican landed a huge right in round eight. Shortly after Miura landed a rabbid punch on Berchelt as Caiz issued a warning. Heading into the championship rounds Berchelt fought conservative keeping his distance utilizing the jab frustrating Miura. The final round saw the two trading in the center as Berchelt and Miura went out on their shield.

In the end the judges scored the bout 120-109, 119-108, and 116-111 as Miguel Berchelt retains his WBC super featherweight title.

In the co-main event Panamanian Jezreel "El Invisible" Corrales (22-1, 8 KOs) made his U.S. debut and squeaked by with a decision over Robinson "Robin Hood" Castellanos (24-12, 14 KOs) as he defended his WBA World super featherweight title. The 2 fighters traded knockdowns early as Corrales was down twice in the third. Corrales returned the favor dropping Castellanos later in the fight. However in the tenth round Castellanos suffered a cut from an accidental head butt as they went to the scorecards. Scores were 97-92, 97-92, and 96-93.

Opening the HBO Boxing After Dark telecast WBC International Light Heavyweight Champion" Joe Smith, Jr. (23-1, 19 KOs) and Miami's Sullivan Barrera (19-1, 14 KOs) went the distance in a scheduled ten round light heavyweight bout. Smith drew first blood as he knockdown Barrera in the opening round with a left hook to the temple. Barrera and Smith traded away in the first half of the fight as Barrera took over halfway through in route to a unanimous decision. The judges scored the fight 97-92, 97-92, and 96-93.

San Diego lightweight Mercito Gesta (31-1-2, 17 KOs) returned with a stoppage over Mexican veteran Martin Honorio (33-11-1, 16 KOs) in a scheduled ten round bout. Gesta suffered a cut on his right eye in the opening round. However in the fourth round Gesta dropped Honorio. The Filipino dominated throughout the fight as referee Thomas Taylor had seen enough waiving 18 seconds of the final round.

Victorville's Ryan Garcia (11-0, 9 KOs) made quick work of Mario Macias (27-22-1, 14 KOs) knocking him out in one round in a scheduled four round lightweight bout. Garcia dropped Macias twice both times with the right hand as the referee Thomas Tyalor waived the bout at 1:14.

Diuhl Olguin (11-7-2, 9 KOs) won a unanimous decision over Horacio Garcia (32-3-1, 22 KOs) in a scheduled eight round featherweight bout. Olguin dropped Garcia a pair of times once in the second with a right hand and in the final round. Judges scored the bout 77-73, 77-73, and 76-74.

Los Angeles's Manny Robles Jr. (13-0, 5 KOs) stopped Christian Esquivel (29-12, 22 KOs) in five rounds.

In the opening bout from the Forum in Inglewood, California Recky Dulay scored a third round knockout over Jaime Arboleda (10-1, 8 KOs) in a super lightweight bout.

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