On Friday night, June 14, in Mexicali, Mexico, two new World Boxing Federation (WBF) Champions were crowned in co-featured bouts on a big show promoted by Juan Carlos Hurtado and his Strikking Boxing Promotions.
At the Auditorio Del Estardo, the same venue where the last world championship fight scheduled for fifteen rounds took place in 1988 (Jorge Paez vs. Calvin Grove), local boxing fans witnessed an excellent night of action.
Mexicali native Dilan Loza took the WBF Mexico Welterweight title from reigning champion Ramon Barajas, with an impressive performance over ten rounds to win by wide unanimous decision. Barajas survived a first-round knock-down and fought back valiantly, but Loza controlled most of the fight with disciplined boxing.
Judge Roman Cruz had it a shut-out 100-90, while judges Fernando Renteria and Antonio Lizarraga scored it slightly closer at 99-90 and 98-91. Referee was Ray Armendariz. Loza improved his record to 15-2 (9), Barajas, making his first defense, drops to 12-18 (5).
In a fight for the vacant WBF North America Cruiserweight title, local hero Gabriel Adrian “El Tanque” Garcia dominated late replacement Ernesto Zamora, jabbing and counter-punching effectively on his way to a clear unanimous decision. No knock-downs.
Garcia, now 9-3-2 (1), won by scores of 99-91 from judge Ray Armendariz, 98-92 from judge Antonio Lizarraga and 96-94, which seemed a bit too close, from judge Roman Cruz. Referee in charge of the action was Fernando Renteria.
