Full Report Latin Fury 8: Tijuana Thunder

By Felipe Leon

A festive crowd of over 18,000 fight fans, last night at he Plaza de Toros Monumental in the Playas suburb of Tijuana, Mexico, witnessed the son of legend Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (39-0-1, 29 KOs) struggle to capture the WBC Latino super welterweight title, with a ten-round unanimous decision over the surprisingly enduring Luciano Cuello (23-1, 10 KOs) of La Plata, Argentina.

The ten-round title fight topped off the Top Rank-promoted “Latin Fury 8-Tijuana Thunder” card televised on Pay-Per-View.

Early in the first round, the Culiacan fighter began to land the family heirloom, the left hook to the body, throwing three-punch combos. The shorter Cuello, moving forward, landed his own set of hooks and short uppercuts when in close or when trapping Chavez against the ropes.

In the second, Cuello’s ribs began to get tenderized and red by the constant left hook to the body from Chavez. The pressure began to mount for Cuello as Chavez began to get in a rhythm of jab-right hand and then, left hook to the mid section. At times, Jr. would add a right one for good measure. Cuello confusingly began to stand there and take the punishment, only offering a sporadic power punch to the body himself.

Early in the third, Cuello had a moment as he trapped Chavez against the ropes and landed a series of punches. Chavez took the action to the middle of the ring again and landed a right hand that bloodied the nose of Cuello. The blood flowing from Cuello’s nose was almost as red as his right side of his torso from the constant body shots. Near the end of the round with his back to the corner, Chavez Jr. unleashed a left hook that wobbled Cuello and made the Argentinean utilize the shell defense. As Cuello felt that he was letting the fight slip away, he decided to exchange leather with Chavez Jr. until the end of the round to the delight of the pro-Chavez crowd.

In his best round yet, Cuello bloodied the nose of Chavez Jr. in the fourth with a series of stiff jabs that helped push his opponent against the ropes. With nowhere for Chavez to go, Cuello was able to go to work to the midsection of Chavez with hooks and short uppercuts, occasionally venturing with a right hand to Chavez’s face.

Chavez began to box in the fifth as Cuello continued to stalk him. Near the end of the round, Cuello threw a beautiful quick three-punch combination that although missing, caught Chavez’s attention. With his nose beaten to a bloody pulp, Cuello stepped up the pace in the sixth and continued to attack Chavez’s body with his own set of power left and right hooks. Chavez seemed to slow down considerably as he moved around the ring trying to avoid what was beginning to look like an unrelenting assault.

Chavez’s fatigue began to become apparent in the seventh round as Cuello kept coming forward. Chavez, instead of meeting him in the center of the ring like in the earlier rounds, backed away, circling the ring and trying to keep the charging Cuello at bay.

In the eighth, the crowd began to show their displeasure at the mounting lack of action inside the ring. As soon as the jeers diminished, Chavez answered in turn with a hard combination in the inside to Cuello’s chest and mid section. Chavez closed the round strong as Cuello’s nose kept gushing out blood.

A new Chavez came out for the ninth as he began to attack the body again with renewed zeal while Cuello tried to stay inside the punches and attack the body as well. With his father, the legendary Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., giving him instructions in between rounds, Chavez again attacked the body trying to slow down Cuello. Cuello took the attack and responded with one of his own landing counter right hands over the left hook.

The last round began to get into a pulse as Chavez assaulted the body with two or three hooks and then Cuello responded with straight punches to the face enough to win him the round.

The ebb continued until the final bell of the tenth and final round.

Official scores were Lou Filippo 96-94 and Bleas 96-95. It was originally announced that Monique Rendon had seen the bout 98-92, the score was later corrected to a closer 97-93.

Soto destroys Davis

As the sun set and the temperature dropped inside the seaside venue, the fireworks began inside the ring in the supporting bouts as Humberto “Zorrita” Soto (47-7-2, 30 KOs) defended for the first time his WBC super featherweight title with a fourth round TKO over the previously unstopped Antonio Davis (26-5, 13 KOs), of Atlanta, Ga.

A tentative Davis walked into very hostile territory as he met Soto in the first round very fearful of what was to come. Barely committing to his punches, Davis tried to land a jabs from too far a range, prompting him to dip his head low. Soto attacked quickly landing a straight right hand that wobbled Davis. Later in the round, Soto connected with a left hook to the top the head of Davis which dropped the shorter fighter to the canvas. Davis was able to beat the count before the end of the round.

In the second, Davis began to let his hands go and began to crowd Soto towards the ropes. Soto tried to regain his distance and throw fast and hard combinations that seem to hurt Davis enough to put him on shaky legs but not enough to drop.

In the third, Davis’ strategy comes to light as his intention was to crowd Soto enough so that the champion could not extend his punches tothe fullest, therefore minimizing his power. Soto began to seem frustrated as he was not able to give the zealous Mexican crowd want it wanted-a quick and impressive knock out.

The beginning of the fourth brought a jab contest for the first half of the round. That was all Soto needed to land a devastating right hand that diminished Davis into a heap on the canvas. Davis was able to get to his feet but only to meet another over hand right that sent him to the same destination.

The game Davis reached his feet again but only to be beaten by a flurry of punches that prompted referee Roberto Ramirez Jr. to step in between the fighters and wave off the bout.

Official time was 2:38 of the fourth round.

Montiel batters down Silva

Fernando “KOchulito” Montiel (39-2-1, 29 KOs) captured history as he became only the fourth Mexican fighter in history to earn three world titles in as many divisions by knocking out the overmatched Argentinean Diego Oscar Silva (24-2-3, 12 KOs), in the third round, to strap on the WBO bantamweight title around his waist.

The first round was uneventful as both fighters tried to find their range. Silva seemed the slight quicker at the two with his fists while Montiel was able to slip the majority of the punches thrown by the Argentinean.

In the second, Silva became more aggressive as he missed huge with a left hook. “KOchul” circled around effortlessly landing jabs at will. Midway thru the round, Montiel landed a crisp left hook to the nose of Silva that buckled the knees of Silva.

Near the end of the round, Montiel landed a devastating straight right hand that sent Silva smashing into the canvas. Silva beat the count and survived the stanza.

Montiel welcomed Silva to the third round with a bomb of a left hook that hurt Silva and sent him down to the canvas once again. Silva beat the count but looked worse for wear as he bled from the nose and mouth. Although Silva seemed to be ready to go, Montiel was patient as he bided his time for the opportunity to attack.

The time came soon enough as both fighters threw punches simultaneously, Montiel’s right uppercut got there quicker dismantling Silva to the canvas. Referee Raul Caiz Sr. didn’t bother to administer a count.

The time was 2:24 of the third round.

With the win, Montiel joins an elite group of Mexican champions that have won three world titles in as many divisions. Along with Montiel, Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. have reached the milestone.