By Jim Dower: WBO bantamweight champion Jorge Arce (60-6-2, 46 KO’s) found his way out of what appeared to be a really tough situation when his fight against Jesus Rojas (18-1-1, 13 KO’s) was ruled a 2nd round no decision on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The fight was halted in the 2nd round after the hard hitting Rojas hurt Arce with a low blow from a shot that ricocheted off of Arce’s elbow. In addition to that, Rojas also landed a punch to the back and a hard left to the ear of Arce that left him too hurt to continue. The fight was then halted at 0:09 of the 2nd round.

Arce knocked Rojas down in the 1st round. However, from then on it was all Rojas, as he teed off on Arce and things were looking bad for Arce up until he was injured.

The no decision probably saved the Bob Arum proposed fight between Arce and WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire for later on this year. Although this wasn’t the impressive performance that Arum was looking for from Arce, it’s perhaps the best that he can hope for. The Donaire-Arce fight will likely be next.

However, after tonight’s win by WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux over Teon Kennedy, boxing fans want to see Donaire face Rigondeaux instead. Don’t hold your breath waiting for that to happen, because Donaire isn’t interested in that fight and his promoters at Top Rank probably won’t push for it either. Arce is arguably the much safer pick for Donaire then throwing him in with Rigondeaux and watching him get knocked out.