Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, WBC International Super Featherweight Champion Manny Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35 Kos) took 8 rounds to dispose of previously undefeated Jorge Solis (32-1-2, 23 Kos). Pacquiao landed an uppercut, left hook combo that dropped Solis for the first time. Solis beat the count, but Pacquiao soon landed another dynamite left hook that sent Solis down for the last time. Referee Vic Drakulich halted the bout at the 1:16 mark of round eight.






Both fighters started cautiously, meeting in the center of the ring, measuring each other. As Pacquiao began throwing combinations Solis seemed intent on countering with his own jab. Pacquiao started round two more aggressively, trying to land his trademark left, but Solis did a very good job of moving his head and avoiding the big punches of Pacquiao. Pacquiao was the aggressor again in round three, but was not landing with much effectiveness. Solis continued with very good lateral and head movement, making Pacquiao miss and at times appear wild in his approach.



Pacquiao continued to press in round four, but Solis' movement and ability to avoid punches almost seemed magical, as Manny could not get connect with many solid punches. Pacquiao's frustration mounted as Solis landed a low blow in fifth; after Drakulich separated the fighters and permitted Manny a brief reprieve, Pacquiao came on strong in the waning seconds of the round.







A fight broke out in the fifth as Many Pacquiao, showing frustration and perhaps impatience with how the fight had been progressing to this point, unleashed his furry on Solis. Pacman landed several hard shots, throwing caution to the wind, and eating a few counter punches by Solis. Solis, proving his fortitude, retaliated with several combinations that backed Pacquiao into the ropes. Pacquiao immediately fired off several punches of his own making this the best round of the fight through five.



As the bell sounded for round six, both fighters charged into the fray ready to resume the warfare of round five. As many times with a southpaw facing a conventional fighter, a head butt occurred with Manny receiving the worst damage and a cut opened up above his right eye. Seeing his own blood motivated Manny as he jumped on Solis, landing several heavy shots. For a moment it appeared Manny was set to take Solis out, but Jorge landed a straight left hand which backed Manny off for the moment.







Both fighters squared off in round seven, Manny looking to finish the fight early, and Solis willing to stand his ground. The damage was begging to show on both fighters as Pacman's cut continued to drip blood, and now Solis' nose was bleeding profusely. Pacquiao's power began to have a noticed effect on Solis as Jorge became more reluctant to trade and covered up, back peddled to avoid the Pacman's power.





Pacquiao and Solis met in the center of the ring, ready to renew the warfare of the previous rounds. After trading jabs, the fighters again clashed heads. Pacquiao followed up with several thudding combinations, culminating with a tremendous uppercut and left hand combination that sent Solis to the canvas. Beating the referees count, Solis was permitted to continue. Pacquiao was determined to finish the fight, moved in and landed a solid left hook, which sent Solis to the canvas for the second and final time.









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Cristian Mijares (31-3-2, 12 Kos) retained his WBC Super Flyweight title Saturday night by dominating the always game and fan favorite Jorge Arce (46-4-1, 35 Kos) via lopsided unanimous decision. From the opening bell, it seemed painfully obvious the skill, size and talent of Mijares would be too much for Arce.





Mijares would begin the fight landing swift combinations to the head of Arce. Arce, normally an aggressive fighter who enjoys putting pressure on his foes, found himself being kept on the outside by the superior counterpunching of Mijares. The dance remained the same in the second and third rounds as Arce was held at bay by the stiff jab. Mijares was boxing beautifully, jabbing from the outside, tying up Arce when the fight got too close. Arce attempted again and again to pressure his way inside, and did land punches, but Mijares was winning the rounds by landing the better shots.







Arce, growing tired of being at the end of Mijares punches, tried valiantly to take the fight inside, even signaling for Mijares to come forward and fight. But Mijares could not be lulled or baited into a war, and continued to box intelligently from the outside. Arce continued to bait Mijares in round five, but the champion could not be deterred from his game plan of box and move, box and move. The clinic was on.



Mijares, easily winning the first half of the fight, continued to utilize his talent, staying on the outside, shooting quick jabs to the head of Arce. Mijares opened up somewhat in the 7th round, landing two uppercuts that deterred Arce for the moment. Arce tried to keep up the pressure, but a Mijares left hand landed solidly, resulting in Arce wavering on unsteady legs. The scene was the same for round 8, with Mijares staying on the outside, jabbing away, and Arce trying to mount a comeback. By the end of the round, Arce was bleeding from the nose, due to an accidental head butt, and blood poured from a cut on the bridge of his nose, opened by the sharp shooting Mijares.







The final four rounds showcased both the talent of Mijares and the heart of Arce. Mijares would stick and move, targeting the cut, as Arce would throw his wide lefts and rights hoping to catch Mijares. Mijares would back Arce into the corner in the 11th, utilizing the jab, and then throwing combos as Arce covered up, waiting for an opportunity which would never materialize. Arce, as always, was game up until the final bell, but this night belonged to the champion. The judges? scorecards read 119-109, 118-110 and 117-111. The13thround.com scored the fight 119-109.







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Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. (31-0, 24) wasted little time in dispatching Anthony Shuler (20-5-1, 14) sending Shuler to the canvas twice in the second round.







Chavez pressed the action from the start, landing several patented left hooks, two of which sent Shuler down for the count at 1:32 of the second frame.







Hopefully we can take Chavez, Jr. at his word as he promised to step up his competition in his next bout. We can only hope so.





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Edgar Sosa (26-4-1, 14 KOs), ranked as the number two Jr. Flyweight contender by the WBC matched up against former champion, and number one WBC contender, Brian Viloria (19-1-1, 12 KOs) Saturday night. Sosa, fighting for the first time in the United States, appeared tentative early as Viloria moved forward landing several stiff jabs. Viloria continued scoring with the jab in the second round and landing combinations.






Viloria began round three opening up with three and four-punch combo's, and had Sosa's nose bleeding from the stinging jabs. But Sosa answered back with a sharp one-two followed by two left hooks to the body. Sosa would even the fight in the fourth round by utilizing his own jab, countering Viloria?s jab, and landing several right hands. Both fighters traded big rights in the round, but Viloria would stop any aggressiveness when Sosa landed.







Round five was close, as Viloria connected with several left hooks, but would get caught by Sosa's excellent counterpunching. After evening the fight in the sixth, Viloria landed a strong right hand in the 7th frame, which stunned Sosa, and had Sosa back peddling on his bike. Viloria failed to capitalize as Sosa roared back in the finals seconds several combinations as the bell sounded.







Viloria pulled ahead on the scorecards in round 8 behind his jab, movement and left hands. Sosa was still game as he landed a terrific left uppercut that had Viloria backing up.






Sosa would then cement the victory by sweeping rounds 9 through 12 behind a fierce and continuous attack on the tired and gassed Viloria. In the 10th round an accidental clash of heads stopped the action, and in the 11th an apparent low blow to Viloria also halted the action. But the damage was evident as Vilorias right eye began to swell shut. As the final bell sounded, both fighters showed the signs of a brutal war. The judges scorecards read 114-114, and 115-113 twice in favor of the new WBC Jr. Flyweight Champion, Edgar Sosa. The13thround.com scored the fight 115-113 for Sosa.