Unbeaten super featherweight Hector Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs) dethroned WBA champion Roger Gutierrez (26-4-1, 20 KOs) by twelve round unanimous decision on Saturday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Garcia built up a lead then faded down the stretch, but he did enough tp prevail by scores of 117-111, 117-111, 118-110.
Two upsets in a row for Garcia, who shocked the world by soundly beating highly-regarded Chris Colbert in a WBA eliminator in February.
“It means a lot to me to win this title,” Garcia said. “I dedicate it to my people, the entire Dominican Republic and my town, San Juan de la Maguana. In the pros, nobody knew me. But in the amateurs, people knew my name. I went to the Olympics – it was my dream. I had a good run. [Gutierrez] was looking for the right punch to take me down, but I was able to dominate, dictate the pace of the fight and get the win.”
This crowd is shameful. Almost empty and it’s the Co-Main. Good card and there is hardly anybody there to enjoy.
Garcia = hard work/determination. Congrats to Garcia.
It was nice to see Joan Guzman’s name on the screen because his defensive reflexes were amazing!!
Gutierrez looked pathetic for 9 rounds until Garcia decided he wanted to slug it out for some reason. The fight became a lot more interesting in the last three rounds. Garcia could have won 12-0 if he had stuck to the fight plan.
Gutierrez just wouldn’t let his hands go and followed Garcia around the ring for 9 rounds losing each round clearly. He was very seldom first in the exchanges and seemed frozen in his stance most of the fight. I truly expected a lot more from him
That’s a fighter who is working hard for everything he earns.. Congrats to him and i wish him the best..
Judges in first fight join the long line of worthless officials.
Gssiev vs. Hunter summons new 200/ 220 division.