By Sam Gregory: In tonight’s co-main event from the Chumash Resort in Santa Ynez, California the former undefeated 29 year old Mauricio Herrera lost a close split decision to Mike Anchondo over eight rounds in the Jr welterweight division.
From the opening bell both men came out very aggressively throwing jabs and combinations most of which found there mark. Anchondo took a lot of punches through the first two rounds but he showed his experience riding those punches out and countering with combinations that kept this a close fight throughout the eight rounds.
By the end of the third round Herrera’s swollen face was an indication of how accurate Anchondo was in landing his jab.
By the middle rounds Anchondo was clearly dictating the pace of the fight causing Herrera to fight at a faster pace. In the fifth round fatigue began to set in on Anchondo.
By the start of the sixth round Herrera looked to be firmly in control of this fight. Herrera continued at a fast pace throwing and landing combinations to the body. Anchondo landed a solid jab to his opponent’s face which started the blood flowing from Herrera’s nose. Listening to the seconds talk between rounds it was obvious Herrera’s nose was broken.
At the start of the eighth and final round both men came out to the center of the ring and let their hands go; punches in bunches from both fighters. Herrera backed Anchondo against the ropes but the former super featherweight champion quickly fought his way off the ropes and into center ring where both fighters fought toe to toe for an intense ending to an eight round fight. Both fighters fought eight solid rounds in this fight.
The judge’s scorecards read: 79-73 for Herrera and 77-75 twice for the winner by split decision Mike Anchondo.
Mike Anchondo improved his record to 30-2 with 19 KO’s; Mauricio Herrera suffered his first defeat falling to 13-1 with 6 KO’s.