A new WBF International lightwelterweight champion was crowned in Campbell, Ohio on Saturday (May 14) when Miguel ‘Silky Smooth’ Gonzalez, from near-by Cleveland, won a 10 round decision over Christopher Fernandez at Saint Lucy Hall.
A sell out crowd watched a very exciting fight between these two warriors. Gonzalez was in top form and Fernandez was a very worthy challenger, he should hold his head high after this performance.
Gonzalez was in control of the fight from the opening bell and landed several body shots that sent Fernandez to the canvas on two separate occasions in rounds two and four, but Fernandez was a very game co-challenger.
He weathered the storm, 0fought back with the pride of a true warrior and did himself, and boxing in general, very proud. In the end, however, all three judges scored the bout 100:87 in favour of the new champion.
The crowd definitely got their monies worth. Adding to the excitement of the evening, in attendance were ring legends Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini, the former world lightweight champ and Ohio all-time great, and ex-world title challenger Frankie Duarte. Both men appeared as if they could still go a couple of rounds.
The 25-year-old Gonzalez, now 17-2 (13), seems ready to take on the best in the world. He has worldclass ability and the personality of a star performer. Fernandez displayed the kind of endurance and tenacity that may be better displayed at the higher weight he prefers. No one in the audience or press seemed unhappy about the decision or action.
It was a successful production from beginning to end and the card was excellent. It is good to see people walking away from a night at the fights with smiles on their faces and sharing the lefts and rights landed as they re-told the story of the nights’ display.
