Boxing In Canada: Demers Shocked In Montreal

Middleweight Sebastien Demers was scheduled to be on his way to a return match with IBF Champion Arthur Abraham later this year but last night at the Gare Windsor Salle des Pas Perdus in Montreal, Colombian slugger Dionisio Miranda altered those plans with a shocking split decision upset of the hometown hero.

Late replacement Miranda was coming off a hard fought loss to American prospect Peter Quillan less than two months before but the South American import showed no signs of wear and tear as he pressed Demers mercilessly and forced the action.

In the early going, it was the boxing ability of Demers which allowed the 28 year old to keep pace with the South American import but the power of Miranda began to tell as Demers was hurt in the fourth frame.

The Montreal man showed more caution in the middle rounds but Miranda closed distance by the ninth and dropped Demers after landing a hurtful barrage. Demers beat the count skilfully managed to keep Miranda off the rest of the way, but came up short in the ringside scoring after the 12th round, losing a split decision via a razor thin margin of 95-94 (twice) and 94-95.

Miranda wins the IBF International Middleweight title and also the vacant NABA strap, improving to 20-2-2 (18), while Demers falls to 25-2 (9).

On the undercard, super middle Adonis Stevenson, 12-0 (9), stayed perfect with a first round stoppage of Anthony “Bullet” Bonsante, 31-10-3 (18). Southpaw Stevenson dropped the American veteran, who appeared knocked out, and referee Gerry Bolen stopped his count early at 0:46 of the first frame before the furious Bonsante could rise and continue the contest.