Arce stops Vasquez, captures WBO crown
LAS VEGAS—Talk about courage and Jorge Arce swiftly comes to mind
Way behind on points, the grizzled Mexican warrior summoned the last ounce of his fading strength to stop Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vasquez and capture the WBO super bantamweight crown at the MGM Grand Arena here Saturday.
The 32-year-old Arce was relentlessly pummeling Vasquez on the ropes when the Puerto Rican’s corner threw in a plastic mineral bottle at the center of the ring as a sign of surrender, 55 seconds before the final bell.
Article continues after this advertisementVasquez dominated Arce up the 10th round.
Arce raised his win-loss-draw record to 57-6-2 with 43 knockouts, while Vasquez suffered his first loss and is now 20-1-1, with 17 KOs.
It was a painful ending for Vasquez, best remembered for knocking out former world champion Filipino Marvin Sonsona in the fourth round in Puerto Rico two years ago.
Article continues after this advertisementVasquez knocked down Arce with a left cross to the jaw in the fourth round and was in control throughout the earlier rounds.
“I was embarrassed by that knockdown,” said Arce, who also reigned as the light flyweight and flyweight champ.
Arce had never been downed by a single punch in his colorful career.
Arce pressed the attack right in the first round, but Vasquez was faster with his fists and quicker on his feet, finally knocking down Arce, who was saved by the bell, in the fourth.
The two continued to trade blows in the second round with neither posting a decisive edge.
Vasquez landed a right uppercut that jolted Arce. A crackling left cross to the jaw finally sent Arce down in the fourth.
With Vasquez connecting, the face of Arce, a noted bleeder, began to redden in the sixth.
The eighth round saw another furious exchange with Arce landing a blow as the bell sounded. Arce continued to stalk Vasquez and finally wobbled the Puerto Rican with a long left. It was all Arce needed as he battered Vasquez with a barrage of punches.
At the start of the 12th round, the protagonists embraced. Then Arce went to work and never stopped punching until he got the win.
