In the co-feature bout on Saturday, July 18, 2015, McJoe Arroyo won a technical decision over Arthur Villanueva to win the vacant IBF Junior Bantamweight World Championship after the bout was stopped at 2:10 in the 10th round due to a deep gash over Villanueva’s right eye. The fight went to the judges’ scorecards and Villanueva was ahead 97-92, 98-91 after the judges scored the 10th.
The Puerto Rican Arroyo (17-0, 8 KOs) became the third fighter from the island to win a 115-pound title.
The lefty-righty matchup was at times highly technical and foul-filled. Referee Rafael Ramos deducted a point against Villanueva (27-1, 14 KOs) for leading with his head in the sixth. In a different clash in the sixth, a deep gash opened up over the right eye of Villanueva that ultimately led to the stoppage. Ramos ruled that the cut was caused by an unintentional headbutt.
Dr. Brian August inspected the cut midway through the seventh round, and again after the eighth. Ramos again signaled for August to inspect the cut in the 10th and ruled that it was too deep to continue. In an interview with Jim Gray, August stated that he stopped the fight in the best interest of the fighter but that Villanueva claimed he was having no sight issues.
“When he was entering he was entering low. He was clashing heads a lot,” Arroyo said. “Before the fight, I knew he was a tough fighter. All Philippine fighters come to fight. I knew I had to be ready for 12 rounds, boxing or brawling. It was a competitive fight but we just worked harder every round.”
When asked by Gray if it was hard to find his rhythm, Arroyo responded: “That’s a normal thing when a southpaw fights a right hander. We were both trying to be slick and smart. That happens when two boxers with the same style fight.”
Villanueva disagreed with the stoppage and called for an immediate rematch.
“It was a rough fight and very tough for me after the headbutt,” Villanueva said. “I thought I won the fight. I didn’t want them to stop the fight because it was just getting into the flow. I’m disappointed with the stoppage. I know I can beat him and I want an immediate rematch.”
In the opening bout of the evening, undefeated 140-pound contender knocked out Fernando Angulo with a thundering right to earn a mandatory shot at the winner of the scheduled fall showdown between Viktor Postol and Lucas Matthysse for the vacant WBC Super Lightweight World Championship.
It appeared to be a difficult fight for Imam (18-0, 15 KOs), but he was always in control and supremely accurate, landing 54 percent of his power punches compared to just 17 for Angulo (28-10, 16 KOs).
Imam ended the bout in brilliant fashion with a powerful right to Angulo’s ear, forcing his opponent to fall face-forward to the canvas and the referee to instantly stop the contest at :56.
“I take my hat off. He’s a good opponent,” Imam said. “I just hit him with a big shot on his ear and he was done.
“These guys get the belts and just hold it. I’m going to get the belt and hold it with pride. All these cherry picking guys – Danny Garcia, Adrien Broner. (Viktor) Postol and (Lucas) Matthysse – I get that winner so we can get that belt.”
Said Imam promoter and Hall of Famer Don King, “It was an excellent performance – just what I expected and more. You should never underestimate but pontificate when it comes to the ‘Young Master.’ We will take the belts and anyone that comes in front of us.”
All photos by Esther Lin/Showtime
