In quite possibly the fight of the year and most certainly the most dramatic ending in 2011, Tijuana’s own Antonio DeMarco (26-2-1, 19KOs) stopped a tough as nails Jorge Linares (31-2, 20KOs) of Venezuela in the eleventh round to capture the vacant WBC lightweight title. The scheduled twelve round war was the semi-main event of Chad Dawson vs. Bernard Hopkins light heavyweight WBC title match up in downtown L.A.’s Staples Center.
Linares controlled the first half of the contest with speed, impressive foot work and effective combination punching. His speed seemed to bother DeMarco who would score sporadically but never committing to pressuring the former two-time world champion. DeMarco let loose in the sixth as he pressed the action and cut Linares on the bridge of the nose. With blood gushing from the cut, Linares was able to continue to box in rounds 7 thru 10 as DeMarco and his corner saw the fight slipping away. With scores of 99-91 and 98-92 two times after the tenth frame, the southpaw DeMarco not only put the pedal to the metal but completely smashed his foot through the floor board when he really let his hands go and completely destroyed Linares in the eleventh round. Scoring with hard jabs and straight left hands, Linares had no answer for DeMarco’s attack as he suffered more cuts over his eye brows and mouth. After Linares ended up with his back to the ropes and with DeMarco scoring an unanswered assault, referee Raul Caiz had seen enough and called a halt to the massacre at 2:32 of the 11th round.
The match up was the second attempt for DeMarco for the coveted green and gold strap. Coincidentally, his first try came against another Venezuelan, the late Edwin Valero. Valero stopped DeMarco in nine heats in Monterrey, Mexico, in February 2010.
Linares and DeMarco stole the show…
Yeah Edgar this was a very good fight. If it wasnt for linares face falling apart this would’ve been a good win for him.
Great win. Props to both fighters for a great fight
This was one of the best fights I have seen so far..
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