Cuenca upsets Yang in China

In a clash of unbeaten junior welterweights, Cesar “El Distinto” Cuenca (48-0, 2 KOs) scored a twelve round unanimous decision over Ik Yang (18-1, 13 KOs) to claim the vacant IBF world title that was previously held by LaMont Peterson on Saturday night at the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena. Cuenca was a heavy underdog as he was largely if not completely unknown heading into this bout with promotional favorite Yang as well as only having 2 career knockouts. Cuenca was credited with a knockdown in round one when an off balance Yang fell back into the ropes and touched the canvas.

Things didn’t get much better in the first stanza of the fight as Yang constantly looked befuddled on how to handle the angles of tricky gamesmanship of Cuenca. Yang mounted a bit of a comeback in the fifth round as he dropped Cuenca who got off the canvas and proceed with business as usual.  It appeared as the fight progressed that the southpaw stance of Cuenca along with his length was giving Yang problems especially with footwork as the fighters seemingly would get tangled up together often. The final round saw Yang deducted a point for throwing Cuenca to the ground as well.

The final scores were 117-110, 115-110, 116-109 all in favor of Cesar Cuenca. Cuenca is now tied for second amongst the longest current unbeaten streaks of world champions as his  48-0 record ties him with Floyd Mayweather and one behind Rocky Marciano (49-0)

Donaire dominates Settoul

Returning to super bantamweight, former five-division world champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire (35-3, 23 KOs) blitzed Anthony Settoul (20-4, 8 KOs) earned a dominate second round TKO as he battered and beat upon a game Settoul. Donaire dropped Settoul seemingly at will as he dropped him twice in round one and again in round two before Settoul’s corner threw in the towel. For Donaire, this is his second straight knockout win after losing to Nicholas Walters in October of last year.

Jose Ramirez forces Yoshida quit on stool

2012 U.S. Olympian and undefeated super lightweight contender Jose Ramirez (14-0, 12 KOs) showed off a lot of his arsenal as he destroyed an outgunned Ryusei Yoshida (26-8, 13 KOs) for three rounds which prompted Yoshida to stay in his corner for the fourth round prompting an end to the fight.

IBF #1 lightweight contender Denis Shafikov (36-1-1, 20 KOs) scored a third round TKO over Roy Mukhlis (27-5-3, 21 KOs) on Saturday night at the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena. Shafikov dropped Mukhlis in round two and forced Mukhilis to say no more in the round there after.  Shafikov was originally set to face IBF champ Mickey Bey on this card, but Bey decided to vacate the title the title meaning his next fight will be for IBF lightweight title. Rances Barthelemy is currently ranked #3 in the division and Miguel Vasquez is ranked as #4 with the second spot vacant assumably until a IBF lightweight fight is announced.