Sergio Mora (27-3-2, 9 KOs) won a tougher than expected split decision win over former kickboxer Abraham Han (23-1, 14 KOs) to win the vacant USBA Middleweight title at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi.
The 12-round fight was the main event of a card that was televised by ESPN 2 in the U.S.
Mora, a 34-year old former titlist at Junior Middleweight, used his signature length and footwork to fight Han from a distance.
The native of East Los Angeles ran into trouble early as a lack of balanced caused a slip that was ruled a knockdown.
Nevertheless, Mora did have trouble with Han in the middle to late rounds as Han continued coming forward.
Han, a 30-year-old native of El Paso, Texas, previously competed as a kickboxer and demonstrated some of the bad habits he retained as he continually leaned back and left himself open for Mora’s right hand.
Despite his trouble, Mora would win on two of the judges scorecards (115-112 and 114-113), while one judge scored it for Han (112-115).
In the co-main event, Welterweight prospect Erickson Lubin (8-0, 6 KOs) scored an 8-round unanimous decision win over Micheal Finney (12-1-1, 10 KOs).
Lubin engaged with Finney several times, but used his speed and power to win comfortably on the judges scorecards.
Also on the card was a bizarre ending to a Cruiserweight fight between Ahmed Elibiale (8-0, 8 KOs) and Dustin Echard (10-0, 7 KOs).
After being walked down for an entire round, Elibiale scored a knockdown that sent Echard almost completely out of the ring.
Echard, standing outside of the ropes, was still on the ring, but struggled to get back in. He was allowed to continue but was stopped again amidst his own cries of “What are you doing?”
The referee stopped the fight as Echard’s enraged cornermen stepped into the ring.
A video of the ending can be seen here:
