World Boxing Roundup: Moreno Defends WBA Belt, Solis Loses

There were a handful of notable bouts taking place across the globe this weekend and we kick things off with a world title bout that took place on Saturday at Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City, Panama.

WBA bantam “Super” champion Anselmo Moreno, 35-2-1 (12), made a successful defense against former WBC Latino super fly beltholder Javier Nicolas Chacon, 19-2 (4).

The vastly less experienced Chacon, fighting outside his native Argentina for the first time, was floored twice in the second round by Moreno, who was participating in his 14th world title bout, but regrouped to see out all 12 rounds.

Moreno posted a 118-108, 117-109, 117-108 unanimous decision win over Chacon, who had previously faced only five opponents with winning records.

Heading north to Mexico, WBO minimumweight champ Merlito Sabillo, 23-1-1 (12), was dethroned in Monterrey by unheralded local man Francisco Rodriguez Jr, 14-2 (10).

Sabillo, of The Phillipines, who was down in the second, was stopped by the hard hitting challenger at 1:50 of the tenth round.

On the undercard, former WBA light welter titlist Vivian Harris, 32-9-2 (19), got a 96-94, 96-94, 95-95 majority decision over Jorge Paez Jr, 37-5-1 (22), at welterweight.

Harris won his third in a row after going 1-7-1 with 1 No Contest from 2007-2012 while Paez sees a 10 bout win streak go up in smoke.

At Polideportivo Centenario in Los Mochis, former WBC super feather and lightweight champion Humberto Soto, 63-8-2 (35), won his fifth in a row with a ten round UD points verdict over Juan Carlos Abreu, 16-1-1 (15), at light welter.

Ex-Interim WBA bantam boss Hugo Ruiz, 34-2 (30), stopped Ramon Maas, 26-4 (15), in the first frame at super bantam while light welter Mahonri Montes, 29-3-1 (21), won an eight rounder against Jesus Valenzuela, 25-11-2 (17).

Leaving Mexico, we head across to Ponce, Puerto Rico where Jose Pedraza, 16-0 (10), outpointed Alberto Garza, 26-7-1 (21), 117-111, 118-110, 119-109, for the vacant IBO super feather title.

Heavyweights were in action in Tekirdag, Turkey, as Tony Thompson, 39-4 (26), won a split decision over Odlanier Solis, 20-2 (13), for the vacant WBC International strap at Ataturk Spor Salonu.

There wasn’t much action in the bout as Thompson was content to paw jabs at the far shorter Solis with the occasional power shot that was mostly blocked while Solis was in a defensive shell except for sporadic forays where he scored well against Thompson.

Had Solis been more active he would have likely picked up the win but was outworked by Thompson.

Across the Mediterranean, Christopher Rebrasse, 22-2-3 (6), stopped Mouhamed Ali Ndiaye, 23-2-1 (13), in the fourth for the vacant European super middle title at Palasport in Pondera, Italy.

Rebrasse and Ndiaye fought to a draw last June for the same belt.

Heading north, we land at Ponds Forge Arena in Sheffield, England for another battle for a vacant European crown, this time the super bantam strap.

British titlist Kid Galahad, 16-0 (8), outpointed Spain’s 9-4-1 (3), on points, 117-111, 118-110, 120-108, to annex the European in a hard fought bout.

Light heavyweight Travis Dickinson, 16-1 (6), hammered ex-European and British champion Danny McIntosh, 14-6 (7), to the canvas three times enroute to winning a stoppage in the third round for the English title.

On Friday night at Villa La Nata Sporting Club in Benavidez, Argentina, Juan Carlos Reveco, 33-1 (18), retained the WBA flyweight title for the third time with a second round KO of WBC Interim Latino super flyweight boss Manuel Vides, 15-3 (9).