Marco Verde TKO5 Roniel Iglesias... Mexico’s Marco Verde got a memorable win over two-time Olympic champion Roniel Iglesias on the IBA show in Aguascalientes, Mexico over the weekend. Iglesias stunned the hometown favorite in the first round. But in round two, Verde looked more composed, catching the Cuban with a left counter. This chess match would occasionally turn into a brawl before returning to its methodical rhythm. With the bout looking even, Verde came alive in the fifth round, catching Iglesias on several occasions much to the delight of the crowd. He nodded to his corner at the end of the fifth, seeing the momentum swing in his favor, but the match would not continue as Iglesias was forced to retire with a hand injury. A proper record for Iglesias is disputed becauise of Boxrec decisions as to which pro fights count and which don't, but Boxingtalk includes IBA World Series of Boxing paid bouts to be pro, so 29-7 is Iglesias' record. Verde
Bryan Acosta TKO8 Alberto Melian... Mexican featherweight Bryan Acosta got a significant victory on the IBA show in Aguascalientes, Mexico over the weekend. Acosta (21-0) defeated Argentina’s Alberto Melian on cuts. After a good start for Acosta, he continued to work hard into the second round and sent Melian back to the ropes. Melian (23-5-1 including the World Series of Boxing) had many good moments, as the Mexican Acosta was left with a bloody nose after the third round. Melian was the aggressor throughout the fight, and Acosta soaked up damage and ultimately started to concede rounds. Knowing he had two more rounds to change his fate, Acosta came out of the corner in the seventh with one goal, to knock Melian out. He knocked Melian down with a flurry of punches for a count of eight. Melian managed to survive the onslaught and even had a brief rally in the final minutes. However, in round eight, [what the IBA called] a clash of heads led to a match-ending eye injury for Melian. Although not the way this match deserved to end, it was inevitable that Acosta would have his arm raised regardless.
ADDITIONAL RESULTS
Junior middleweight Jose Miguel Borrego (21-4) defeated Dante Ettore (8-2-2) from the USA. Borrego, who previously defeated Kazakhstan’s Aslan Shymbergenov at IBA Champions’ Night in Astana, was returning to his hometown seeking a second victory in the series. His confidence was clear from the off, actively pursuing the American, causing nose and eye damage to his opponent. Ettore was effective in his counter attacks, but the infliction from the Mexican was too much, giving hometown hero Borrego the victory after four rounds when the injuries sustained were deemed excessive.
Cruiserweight Rogelio Romero gave Mexico its first win of the night, beating Evgeny Shvedenko from Russia in an 86kg contest. Shvedenko was confrontational on the front foot, but Romero was able to counter effectively, having his best round in the third, beating his opponent by unanimous decision.
Lightweight Shamar Canal from the United States emerged with a split decision victory against Miguel Ramirez Martinez from Mexico in the second bout of the night at 67kg. The noise rose in the second round when Martinez came forward and caught Canal with a left hook that turned the American’s head 180 degrees. Canal’s best came with a right uppercut in the last moments of the third round and from there, continued to pile pressure on the counter attack, soaking up the pressure of Martinez’s power punches before cleaning coming back at his opponent effectively.
In the opening match, Julio Castillo from Ecuador defeated Mexican Kevin Martinez at cruiserweight. Martinez found a breakthrough with a combination in the final moments of the third round, coming in at short range and at that point, had the better of the fight. However, Castillo continuously caught the Mexican off-guard, flashing him with surprise hooks, racking up the points before claiming the victory unanimously.
