Farenas, Gesta blow title bids

LAS VEGAS—Filipinos Michael Farenas and Mercito Gesta blew their bids for world titles in the undercard of Pacquiao-Marquez 4 here Saturday night.

His vision blurred by cuts in both eyebrows, Farenas bowed by unanimous decision to the much-heralded Yuriorkis Gamboa of Cuba in their battle for the WBA interim super featherweight crown.

A seemingly tireless Miguel Angel Vazquez exploited his long reach and excellent movement to give Gesta a boxing lesson and keep his International Boxing Federation lightweight title by unanimous decision in the other supporting bout.

Enjoying an eight-inch reach advantage and gifted with speedy hands, Vazquez virtually ran rings around the flat-footed Gesta while sneaking in jabs to win on scores of 117-111, 119-109 and 118-110, in his fifth title defense.

The 26-year-old Vazquez took the first five rounds with his quick jabs as Gesta failed to land his power punches. The rangy Mexican rocked the tattoed Gesta, sporting a Tomahawk hairdo with a right in the third round.

Vazquez continually circled and jabbed to frustrate Gesta, who failed to adjust and suffered his first loss after 26 wins and one draw.

It was a clear win for the 5-foot-10 Vazquez, who improved to 25-3 with 19 knockouts and three losses. Those losses, however, came against calibered fighters—Canelo Alvarez (twice) and Omar Bradley.

Although outfought by the unbeaten Gamboa, a former world champion and gold medalist in the Athens Olympics while representing Cuba, Farenas displayed a lion’s heart.

Gamboa, who climbed to 22-0 with 16 knockouts, decked Farenas with a left in the second round and then forced a standing count in the seventh with a flurry of punches.

Surprisingly, Farenas (now 34-4-4 with 26 knockouts) held his ground and even stunned the showboating Gamboa with a left in the ninth round, for a similar standing count.

Gamboa, who gave rapper 50 Cent a victory in his debut as a boxing promoter, coasted along in the 12th and final round and earned the judges’ nods on lopsided scores of 117-109, 118-108 and 117-108.