Boxing In Mexico: Cruz Held To Draw, Cermeno Victorious In World Title Bouts

IBF featherweight king Cristobal Cruz had his homecoming title defense against Ricardo Castillo short circuited last night at Palenque de Gallos in Tuxtla Gutierrez after just three rounds of action.

A close contest was called off as a technical draw in the third when an accidental head clash left Cruz unable to carry on with the bout.

The result leaves Cruz still with the IBF belt and a record of 39-11-2 (23) while Castillo, 38-7-1 (25), has now come up short in three world title contests.

There was a big show at Arena Itson in Cuidad Obregon with the Interim WBA bantam title at stake between strapholder Nehomar Cermeno and Alejandro Valdez.

It was a rough bout that saw Valdez cut from a head clash and Cermeno losing a point for use of the knee but it was largely a one-sided clash that saw Cermeno drop Valdez twice before finishing things off at 2:40 of the 11th.

Cermeno rises to 19-0 (11) and will soon challenge for the full WBA title while Valdez now stands at 22-4-2 (16).

The other high profile bout on the bill was a scrappy affair as well as former feather and super feather world champ Jesus Chavez and current WBC super feather titlist Humberto Soto went at it for ten rounds at lightweight.

37 year old Chavez found himself on the floor in the first frame but came back to pressure his younger adversary. Chavez lost points in the fifth and sixth rounds and was outboxed as Soto won a wide 100-87 points verdict on all three scorecards.