Rafael Valencia
Indio (November 23, 2019)- For the second time in their careers, Andrew ‘El Chango’ Cancio (21-4-2 16KO’s) and Rene ‘Gemalo’ Alvarado (31-8 20KO’s) came face to face. Cancio’s WBA super featherweight belt was on the line, adding incentive for the Argentinian to bring his A game. Cancio won their first matchup by knockout and came into the rematch a major favorite with bigger fights to be made down the line.
Alvarado came out of his corner firing and connecting power punches, Cancio landed but simply couldn’t get his motor started against the blitz let loose by Alvarado. In the fourth round Cancio suffered a cut over his left eye that bothered him. In the fifth round Cancio connected with a right hook wobbling Alvarado, but still continued to receive punishment. Cancio showing discomfort, Alvarado kept attacking the cut which lead to the referee stopping the fight at the end of the seventh round giving Alvarado the KO victory, avenging his loss, and becoming the new WBA super featherweight champion.
“It’s a feeling very hard to describe. It’s something I’ve wanted ever since I started my career, and now Nicaragua has another world champion, twin brothers.” Alvarado said through interpreter Gabe Rivas.
“My objective was to make sure that I become a world champion on this important day, the 23rd of November, when 45 years ago, Alexis Argüello became a world champion for the first time [and Nicaragua’s first world champion]. And now for the first time, we have two world champions who are twin brothers from Nicaragua. That was the objective.” Said Alvarado.
The loss puts an end to the momentum of Cancio following an inspirational streak of wins to win the title after spending part of his career as the opponent.
“I just couldn’t get off. Rene fought a hell of a fight tonight. I was two steps behind him. There’s nothing I can say. He fought his fight tonight and he got his revenge in the rematch. Congratulations to him. He did exactly what I did, he had to come from behind to come over here and become a world champion.” Cancio said after the fight.
XU CAN RETAINS TITLE
In the co-main event, Xu ‘Monster’ Can (17-2 3KO’s) from China, put his WBA Featherweight title on the line against the Los Angeles, California fighter Manny ‘Chato’ Robles III (18-0 8KO’s). In the early rounds, the fight was fought in the inside with both fighters landing heavy uppercuts. Neither fighter looked to be fazed by the punches nor looked to back down. Most of the rounds were too close to call but in the end Can kept the pressure and was more consistent, earning the unanimous decision win with a 120-108 119-109 and 118-110 to retain his WBA title.
‘SPEEDY’ WINS BELT WITH SPEED
In a fight for the vacant WBA Continental Americas Welterweight championship, Rashidi ‘Speedy’ Ellis (21-0 14KO’s) from Boston, Massachusetts came face to face with Eddie ‘E-Boy’ Gomez (23-3 13KO’s) from Bronx New York. Ellis showed of his speed and great head movement from the start. Without being able to land a clean shot, Gomez showed his frustration when he through a head-butt in the fifth round when the referee went in for the break. Ellis landed the bigger punches throughout the fight and with a unanimous decision 100-90 and 99-91 (twice) kept his unblemished record and became the new champion.
MORALES JR. GETS SHUTOUT TO STAY PERFECT
Victor Morales Jr (12-0 7KO’s) defeated Diuhl Olguin (14-12-3 9KO’s) by unanimous decision in a fight that turned into a brawl in the later rounds to remain undefeated. Morales Jr controlled most of the fight with his quick combinations and able to slip most of Olguin’s punches. In the fourth round Olguin landed a looping right hand that cut Morales over the left eye. Olguin had some big moments in the final round when he caught Morales on the ropes with some hook combinations. The judges saw it different as all three had Morales winning the fight in a shutout 80-72.
ALBERTO MELIAN GETS KO IN ROUND 2
Alberto ‘Impacto’ Melian (5-1 3KO’s) of Argentina defeated Juan ‘Loquito’ Kantun (21-8-3 15KO’s) by KO in the second round. The fight was almost stopped in the end of the first round but Kantun was saved by the bell. Melian sensed his opponent was hurt and jumped on him immediately starting the second round with heavy combinations caused the ref to step in and stop the fight.
NASIYIWULA TAKES UD WIN
In the first fight of the night, China native Baishanbo‘Destroyer’ Nasiyiwula (15-3-1 6 KO’s) defeated Saul ‘Navajo’ Corral (30-14 20 KO’s) from Sonora, Mexico by unanimous decision. Nasiyiwula was putting the pressure on Corral from the start. In the 10th and final round, both fighters were landing some big punches but in the end all three judges had the fight 80-72 for Nasiyiwula.
