In HBO’s Saturday triple-header Main Event, Miguel Berchelt (32-1 28 KO) unexpectedly dominated Takashi Miura (31-4-2 24 KO) with scores of 120-109, 119-108, 116-111 in defending his WBC super featehrweight belt for the first time.
A quick Berchelt combination surprised Miura dropping him at the end of the 1st Round. Miura was not hurt but this made it a 10-8 round and an early two-point lead for Berchelt that Miura could never overcome.
Miura did not look like his usual self. Although he had a few moments, they were few and far between. His balance and movement looked a bit off. He was true to his trademark style of the attacker but this played right into Berchelt’s hands as he banked rounds by continually landing straight rights on the incoming Miura.
In other action, Jezreel Corrales (22-1 8 KO) retained his WBO 130 title with a majority decision over Robinson Castellanos (22-11 14 KO), although it wasnt easy.
The title-fight did not go the scheduled 12 as an accidental head butt to Castellanos in the tenth deemed him unable to continue and ended the fight. The judges scored the fight 94-94, 94-93, 96-92 for Corrales which included the tenth, all thirty or so seconds.
Castellanos was game, knocking down the champion twice in the 4th and continued to give him hell throughout.
Corrales scored a flash knockdown in 7th. As Corrales landed, Castellanos actually blocked it with his glove; however, the force of the blow pushed Castellanos’ glove against his own face causing him to fall.
It was unfortunate for Castellanos that the fight had to be stopped.
Light heavies opened the night where the much hyped Joe Smith Jr. (23-2 19 KO) was facing the once beaten Sullivan Barrera (20-1 14 KO).
At the opening bell, Barrera was utilizing his excellent boxing skills to dictate the action; however, towards the end of the round, Smith Jr. caught him with a left hook and dropped him. Barrera was able to survive the round and then went on to control most of the fight en route to a 96-93, 97-92 X2 unanimous decision.
Barrera’s active combination and counter punching were the difference. Barrera worked the body early and often which seemed to slow Smith Jr. and decrease the effectiveness of his power.
When Smith Jr. watches the tapes, he will see that he rarely utilized or worked behind his jab which limited his ability to set up the power shots that he is known for.
Standing-8 