January 2014’s last weekend saw three of boxing’s marquee names leave the ring victorious and in possession of a major world title.
Unbeaten Mikey Garcia had next to no problems holding onto his WBO Junior Lightweight belt in Madison Square Garden, New York. Despite posing some minor challenges due to a height advantage, challenger Juan Carlos Burgos was soundly beaten via Unanimous Decision.
Though failing in his title bid by scores of 118-110, 118-110, 119-109, the Mexican should be credited for soaking up some heavy shots and taking a talented pugilist the distance. The crowd let their boos be heard going into the later rounds, expecting Garcia to finish off his dominated foe, but had to settle for less. Granted, it did seem the young Garcia may have gone into cruise control toward the end of the fight and could’ve gone up a gear.
It’s likely we’ve yet to see the best of Garcia, but surely will when a higher caliber of opponent enters the ring. Garcia extends his record to 34 wins and no losses, while Burgos’ falls to 30 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws.
In Stuttgart, Germany, Marco Huck won his fan-friendly rematch with old foe, Firat Arslan. Huck, who hadn’t stopped an opponent since October 2011, changed all that by dropping his foe twice en route to an emphatic 6th round TKO. The bout remained competitive in the early rounds, but soon Huck’s superior class and movement turned the tables.
The exclamation point victory meant Huck retained his WBO Cruiserweight title, improving to 37 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw, with 38 knockouts. Arslan’s record drops to 33 wins, 7 losses, 2 draws, with 21 knockouts.
David Price had little trouble taking care of Istvan Ruzsinszky on the evening’s undercard. The 1st round TKO represented another career-building win for the British Heavyweight, following two devastating defeats at the hands of Tony Thompson.
In Washington D.C., Lamont Peterson gave a truly world class performance against highly regarded Dierry Jean, showcasing the kind of power and skill that could trouble many at Junior Welterweight. By dethroning then IBF Champion Jean, Peterson has sent a considerable shockwave through the division; he has returned, and is still a force that shouldn’t be taken lightly by any means.
The loss will come as a blow to Jean, but a remarkable fighter such as he should have no trouble rebounding – especially given his spirited performance that night. The Unanimous Decision will be regarded as one of Peterson’s finest, and was reached by ringside scores of 118-111, 116-112, 115-113.
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