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Backed by more than 5,000 fans at Arthur W. Purdue Stadium in Salisbury, MD, local sensation Fernando Guerrero earned the NABO Interim Middleweight title Saturday night with an impressive 10 round majority decision over renowned tough guy Ossie Duran.
After a tentative start during the first few rounds, Guerrero turned up the heat. A straight left hand stunned Duran in the sixth, but the New Jersey based Ghanaian hung in tough.
The hard hitting Guerrero kept Duran on his toes in the seventh, tagging the respected veteran with crisp combinations. Guerrero was cut over the left eye in the eighth following an accidental headbutt, but the blood didn’t deter the hometown hero.
Guerrero maintained a high workrate, but was controversially ruled down in the final round. While his loyal fans, who packed the stadium despite poor weather conditions throughout the day, were livid with the knockdown call, Guerrero kept his composure and finished strong.
Scores of 97-93 and 96-94 overruled a questionable tally of 95-95. With the victory, Guerrero improved to 16-0 (13 KO’s), while the grizzled Duran falls to 23-8 (9 KO’s).
“It was a great learning experience”, said Guerrero, who needed five stitches to close the gash from the headbutt. “Duran was a great opponent and he’s gone the distance with some good fighters.”
Like those in attendance, Guerrero was astonished that referee Gary Camponeschi credited Duran with a knockdown in the final round.
“Everyone knew it was a slip,” said Guerrero. “It rained earlier in the day, which made the canvas slippery, but I got right back up and fought to the finish.”
The Guerrero-Duran bout topped Prize Fight Boxing’s “Title Time”.
Prize Fight returns Tuesday, November 2 with the popular “Miller Light Fight Night” at New Daisy Theater in Memphis, TN followed by “Fights at the Fitz”, Saturday, November 21 from Fitzgerald’s Casino in Tunica, MS.
