It was counter punching over relentless pressure.
Alberto Puello withstood the constant aggression of Batyr Akhmedov to win a split decision and the vacant WBA 140-pound title on the Omar Figueroa Jr.-Sergey Lipinets card Saturday in Hollywood, Florida.
Puello was the second Dominican to win a world title on the card, as Hector Garcia took Roger Gutierrez’s 130-pound belt earlier on the card.
“This was the hardest fight of my life, but the one I prepared the most for,” Puello said in the ring. “I do feel a lot of emotions, and two Dominicans were crowned champions on the same night. This win means a lot to me.
“This is a big thing for us Dominicans because my friend Hector Garcia and I are bringing two titles back home. My hometown, San Juan de la Maguana has already started the party and they are waiting for Garcia and I to come back and join them.”
Puello (21-0, 10 KOs) appeared to be too slick for Akhmedov (9-2, 8 KOs) for the first several rounds, using quick combinations to build a lead on the cards.
However, by Round 4, Akhmedov picked up his pace and never slowed down. He battered Puello’s body from that point on to make the fight competitive.
Puello took a great deal of punishment but never stopped countering, catching Akhmedov with quick, eye-catching shots as the Los Angeles-based Uzbek came forward.
That evidently impressed the two judges who gave the fight to Puello by a wide margin.
“I mixed it up, sometimes counterpunching and some other times coming forward,” Puello said. “What I studied from the gym and from the videos, I knew he would apply pressure. But I was actually surprised with the amount of pressure he started with, and in the end I was able to figure him out.
“I knew it was a close fight, and I just kept the distance and kept the pressure on the jab tonight, and that helped me get the victory.”
[lawrence-related id=32222,32210]