| BoxingTalk Story |
 |
16/09/2006
Drakulich deduction costs Barrios a draw
Joan Guzman W12 Jorge Barrios... Dominican Joan Guzman defeated Jorge Barrios in a great battle in Las Vegas on Saturday to capture a WBO belt in his second weight class. Guzman, a former 122-pound champion, appeared to be stronger and a harder puncher than the naturally larger Barrios, and these advantages carried him to a split decision victory by scores of 114-113, 115-112 and 113-114. Although Guzman appeared to deserve the victory, referee Vic Drakulich cost Barrios a draw with an ill-advised point deduction in the fifth round for a borderline blow. Guzman captured the newly vacated WBO title that Barrios was stripped of yesterday when he could not get down to the 130-pound limit. At the opening bell, Guzman stormed out like a house on fire, seemingly intent on taking Barrios out in the first minute of the bout. Barrios was too skilled, and weathered the storm. Although the pace slowed after the first two fights, Guzman fought with a machismo not to be exepcted from a challenger fighting two weight classes above his original home. Barrios' face began to bruise and swell as the fight wore on. Although he likely was not in the best of shape for this fight, the pride of Argentina pressed the action and landed several meaningful punches during what will almost certainly be Barrios' last appearance at junior lightweight. Guzman landed some brutal shots in the eleventh but Barrios just kept coming until the fight ended. Barrios exits the division with a record of 46-3-1 and with his marketability still intact. source: HBO PPV
