Reyes Defeats Suleymanov In Mazatlan Barn Burner
By Boxing Press August 5th, 2012 All Press ReleasesHector Garcia and his HG Boxing put on another spectacular evening of boxing Saturday night at the Centro de Convenciones in Mazatlan, Mexico, as local heroes Arturo Santos Reyes and Irma Sanchez won World Boxing Federation title fights.
Santos Reyes, 12-2 (4) captured the vacant WBF Super Bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over US-based Russian Khabir Suleymanov, 13-3 (6), and Sanchez, 24-5-1 (7), successfully defended her WBF Women’s Flyweight crown by unanimously outscoring Sharon Gaines, 11-14-1 (3), from the USA.
The clash between Santos Reyes and Suleymanov turned out to be the fight of the night, as the two battled it out in an even and entertaining bout. The visitor got off to a good start and won most of the early rounds, but suffered a cut over his left eye in the process which seemed to spur on Santos Reyes who was best in the middle rounds.
The final third of the fight was a war of wills, and both contestants delivered and received at a furious pace to close out the twelve-rounder. Suleymanov was deducted points for fouling in rounds six and ten, but the scores of 116-110 in favor of Santos Reyes from all three judges seemed much too wide.
Making the third defense of her title, Irma “La Guerita” Sanchez didn’t have an easy time against Sharon Gaines from Las Vegas. Tough as they come, Gaines took everything Sanchez dished out, and fought back the best she could. But Sanchez was bigger and stronger, and was able to hurt the experienced American a few times during the course of the bout.
Sanchez, still only 24-years-old, had her best moments working on the inside, while Gaines tried to box from a distance and keep Sanchez at the end of her straight punches. It was a good fight, but Sanchez was best in almost every round and was awarded a clear decision by scores of 99-91, 99-91 and 98-92.
The nine-bout card was aired live in Mexico by Televisa, and also saw Filipino John Riel Casimero retain a Light Flyweight title against hometown favorite Pedro Guevara.
