In a stunning upset, Andrew Cancio (20-4-2, 15 KOs) defeated Alberto Machado (21-1, 17 KOs) on Saturday, February 9, 2019 by fourth-round knockout.
Cancio also snagged Machado’s WBA Super Featherweight title in the process as well.
Machado was viewed as a rising star and a force in the Super Featherweight division. Just a few months prior he looked sensational in scoring a first-round knockout. On Saturday night he looked like he was on his way to another dominant victory.
In the opening frame Cancio was dropped, hurt and barely beat the count. Although Machado couldn’t close the show in that opening round it sure did seem as though the bout would not make it the full distance.
Instead of Cancio trying to keep his distance he came out straight towards the champion. Machado seemed to handle the offensive output very well during the early portion of the contest.
But that pressure finally got to Machado in the fourth round. Cancio landed a monster body shot that forced the champion to take a knee. The champion managed to beat the count but was in serious trouble.
Machado again was sent to the canvas after Cancio attacked the body once more. Machado beat the count yet again. He did his best to keep Cancio off of him but the challenger would not be deterred.
He hammered away at the body and sent the champion tumbling to the canvas and almost out of the ring with more shots to the body. The referee waved off the contest and Cancio was crowned champion.
Machado suffered a huge set back that will have many wondering if he was as good as many believed he was. For Cancio, he has pulled off the biggest win of his career and the biggest upset in the early portion of 2019.
After failing on the big stage several times in his career, Cancio can now call himself a champion.
'El Chango' does it.
Andrew Cancio stuns @xplosivomachado in front of a raucous hometown crowd and is THE NEW WBA Super Featherweight Champ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SKMks3ubop
— DAZN USA (@DAZN_USA) February 10, 2019
