Alberto Puello (17-0, 9 KOs) became the new WBA interim super lightweight champion by defeating Jonathan “Maravilla” Alonso (18-1, 7 KOs) via unanimous decision in the main event of the big WBA “KO to Drugs” card that took place Saturday night at the Carlos Teo Cruz Coliseum in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Puello’s victory was hard fought as Alonso did well in the early rounds, attacking in spurts with combinations. By the fifth round, however, Puello started to gradually take over command of the bout with a hard jab and a well-timed right cross. He burst open Alonso’s lip in the 10th round. The three judges voted 115-113. Fightnews saw it 116-112.

Other Results:

Unbeaten lightweight Jackson Marinez (19-0, 6 KOs) retained his WBA Fedelatin title with a TKO3 (cut) over Kenin Betancourt (10-5, 9 KOs) of Venezuela

Unbeaten featherweight Hector Luis Garcia (12-0, 9 KOs) won by split decision over Anvar Yunusov (8-1, 4 KOs) of Tadjikistan for the WBA Fedelatin 126lb title over 11 rounds.

In the best fight of the card, super bantamweight Giovanny Gutierrez (8-0, 6 KOs) of Nicaragua scored a dramatic knockout over favored Dominican William Encarnacion (18-1, 15 KOs) in the 4th round. In the third round of the wild slugfest, BOTH boxers simultaneously knocked themselves down with right hand crosses. They were simultaneously counted but the bell rang. Both managed to get up but Encarnacion was much more shaken. In the following round, a looping right hand by Gutierrez sent Encarnacion to the mat totally unconscious. The Dominican laid prone for a good, scary three minutes. The bout was for the WBA super bantamweight Fedecaribe belt.

For the WBA Fedecentro featherweight title, Francy Fortunato (7-0, 6 KOs) looked impressive stopping (TKO) Edison Torres (12-3, 6 KOs) of Venezuela in three rounds.

Super welterweight Bryan Medina (9-0, 7 KOs) won an eight round decision over Ivan Matute (30-3, 25 KOs) of Venezuela.

Super lightweight Luis Salazar (13-0, 2 KOs) outpointed Bernardo Lebron (10-3, 4 KOs) of Puerto Rico over eight rounds.

Heavyweight Abigail Soto (12-0-1, 6 KOs) won the WBA Fedecaribe title by points over 9 rounds against Dominican countryman Cristian Galvez (17-4, 4 KOs).

Lightweight Jesus Cuadro (17-4, 14 Kos) of Venezuela, knocked out Luis Rosa (9-14, 6 KOs) in 29 seconds of the first round. Rosa was taken out on a stretcher.

The WBA KO to Drugs card was promoted by Shuan Boxing. TV: Channel 31, Altice and Channel 33, Claro. WBA President Gilberto Jesus Mendoza was in attendance.