Boxing Result: Keb Baas, Miranda Retain World Titles In Mexico

ByAlejandro Tostado

Two good fight cards last night in Mexico with Gilberto Keb Baas holding onto his WBC light fly belt in Merida while Julio Cesar Miranda did the same with his WBO fly strap in Queretaro.

Keb Baas, making the first defense of the crown he won in shocking fashion over Omar Nino Romero in November was facing experienced ex-WBC minimumweight ruler Jose Antonio Aquirre at Merida’s Poliforum Zamna.

At age 35, Aquirre no longer possesses his championship form and that was evident from the first bell as Keb Baas simply walked thru Aquirre’s defenses.

The reigning champion was aggressive, taking the fight to Aquirre, who had no answers to the forceful attacks from Keb Baas, particularly the hard midsection shots.

Aquirre didn’t have difficulty finding the target but his own offense was sporadic and didn’t deter his willful opponent, who dealt out an ever increasing measure of punishment as the bout wore on.

After eight rounds were completed, Aquirre’s corner wisely put an end to their man’s challenge, giving Keb Baas the victory.

The 33 year old champion remains the WBC light flyweight kingpin, running his record to 35-20-4 (22), while Aquirre has now lost eight of his last ten appearances, dropping to 35-10-1 (21).

The undercard was headed up by Wilbert Uicab, 31-5-1 (18), defending his WBC silver flyweight belt by a 119-109, 119-108 and 116-111 margin over southpaw Edwin Diaz, 12-17 (5).

Lightweight Juan Carlos Salgado, 23-1-1 (16), won his rematch with Guadalupe Rosales, 28-7 (16), via scores of 98-92, 97-93 and 97-93 after ten rounds.

There was almost an upset at Explanada Estadio Corregidora in Queretaro as unheralded challenger Arden Diale, 14-6 (3), shockingly put reigning WBO flyweight king Julio Cesar Miranda, 36-9-1 (22), on the canvas in the first round of their contest.

But Miranda beat the count and regrouped, taking control of the bout and dishing out a one-sided beating for the remainder of the clash.

Diale started to fall apart by the third, hitting the floor but made it to the fourth where he was downed again, this time for good at 1:29 of the frame.

Miranda retains the WBO belt for the third time and will likley have to face mandatory challenger and former IBF/WBC flyweight ruler Brian Viloria next.