(Miami) Dominicans Hector Garcia and Alberto Puello won the WBA world titles in Hollywood, Florida on Saturday.
Posted at 12:31 a.m.
Garcia, 30, won the WBA super featherweight belt by unanimous decision (118-110, 117-111, 117-111) against Venezuelan Roger Gutierrez.
“I thank God for this victory after so many sacrifices,” Garcia said through an interpreter. “This victory was very important for me and for my country”.
PHOTO FROM THE BOXING SCENE WEBSITE
hector garcia
For his part, Puello benefited from a split decision of the judges (113-115, 117-111, 117-111) against Russian Batyr Akhmedov to capture the vacant world welterweight title, becoming the first champion of the Dominican world in the category.
“I brought the second title to the Dominican Republic”, welcomed Puello, “the party has already begun”.
Puello, who now has 21 wins and no losses, felt insulted by the Russian who rejected him as a partner during a training camp.
He said I couldn’t be on his side because I didn’t have enough talent. I showed him tonight.
Alberto Puello, about Batyr Akhmedov
Garcia improves his record with 16 wins and zero losses, while Gutierrez, 27, is 26-4 and gives up his world crown after two games to defend it.
Garcia set the pace early on, inflicting a left to the defending champ’s head in the fourth round, then hitting him to the body in the fifth.
The Venezuelan responded with a heavy right and a solid left hook in the 11e round and the two continued to strike at the end of the fight.
“I was looking for that great shot that would knock him out. in the last three rounds,” Garcia said, “but he didn’t come.