Alvarez, Arce, Soto Win Big Fights In Mexico

Big night of boxing south of the border with three fight cards on tap, two of which boasted world title bouts.

WBC light middle ruler Saul Alvarez solidified his hold on the green belt with the biggest won of his career, stopping former IBF welter titlist Kermit Cintron in the fifth round at Monumental Plaza de Toros in Mexico City.

The older, more experienced Cintron tried to pressure young gun Alvarez in the first but landed little of substance as the champion was just too quick and began to effectively counter.

The challenger boxed from a distance in the second frame and had a better round as a result, scoring with the jab and the odd right hand while Alvarez landed a few counters but looked less confident than in the first.

The third saw Cintron stop boxing and look to land bigger shots, which allowed Alvarez to regain control as the challenger’s efforts left openings for the champion to exploit.

In the next frame, the fighters started to trade toe to toe with Alvarez successfully finding a home for the left hook to the body of Cintron.

This opened up Cintron to the looping right hands of Alvarez, which caused the challenger to take a knee with a minute left in the fourth. Cintron made it through the round but was rocked several times.

Cintron came out firing away in the fifth and caught the champion with a solid right but Alvarez walked through it as the pair traded further shots.

The challenger landed a few more heavy shots as Alvarez kept coming forward, looking to land his heavy artillery. That moment came with just seconds left in the fifth as Alvarez caught Cintron with a big right that staggered the American, inspiring referee Hector Afu to stop the bout at 2:53.

Alvarez retains the WBC title for the third time, improving to 39-0-1 (29), while Cintron drops to 33-5-1 (28), having now lost three of his last four appearances.

On the west coast at Plaza deToros in Mazatlan, Sinaloa icon Jorge Arce, 59-6-2 (45), was in fine form during his rematch with Indonesia’s Anky Angkotta, 25-6 (14), posting a 12 points verdict for the vacant WBO bantam strap.

The pair had previously tangled in January, 2010, as Jorge won the vacant WBO super fly crown by seventh round technical decision as Angkotta suffered bad cuts above the eye from an accidental headbutt.

This time the contest went the distance but had several key moments as Angkotta was hurt in the third frame before turning the tables on Arce in the eighth.

Arce, who retained the WBO super bantam belt during his previous outing, has now won world titles in the 108, 115, 118 and 122 pound divisions.

At Campo Futbol Colosio in Playa del Carmen, ex-WBC lightweight and super feather champion Humberto Soto, 57-7-2 (34), continued his march to a light welter title shot with a fourth round stoppage of Adailton De Jesus, 29-7 (23).

The high guard and tricky style of De Jesus kept Soto guessing for the first two rounds but by the third Brazil’s De Jesus tried going on the offensive.

This risky gamble backfired as the South American landed a few wild swings but this approach allowed Soto the openings he needed to start tagging his rival with right hands and left hooks.

As De Jesus was accumulating damage, a double left hook to the head and body put the Brazilian down hard at the end of the third.

De Jesus made it through the round by spitting out his mouthpiece but had no such luck in the fourth as the round started off with a slugfest and ended seconds later when Soto nailed De Jesus with a perfect left hook.