Jorge Arce stopped Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in the 12th and final round of a close fight to take Vazquez’s junior featherweight title on the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley card Saturday at the MGM Grand.
Bob Arum said Julio Cesar Chavez could fight Brian Vera next, and eventually, Andre Ward.
Arce scores stunning 12th-round KO over Vazquez
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LAS VEGAS – Jorge Arce stopped Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. 55 seconds into the 12th and final round of a close fight to take Vazquez’s junior featherweight title on the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley card Saturday at the MGM Grand. Arce, losing the fight on the cards, seemed to hurt Vazquez with a barrage of punches against the ropes late in the 11th round. Then, after hugging the then-titelholder to open the 12th, unloaded another long flurry with Vazquez’s back against the ropes until the Puerto Rican’s corner stopped the fight at xx of the round. Arce (57-6-2, 44 knockouts) has now won four titles in three divisions. Vazquez, the son of the three-division titleholder, engaged in some give and take with his relentless opponent early in the fight but seemed to take control by mid-fight with his superior speed and all-around ability. He put the Mexican favorite down with a left hook a split second before the end of the fourth round but Arce got up and was never in serious trouble again. Vazquez (20-1, 17 KOs) was making his third title defense.. Arce was deemed by many to be too battle weary to compete with a strong, young (26) fighter like Vazquez. The scores were 104-104, 107-102 in favor of Arce and 104-104 after 11 rounds. |