Published on Friday, March 05, 2010
By DAVID A. AVILA
PECHANGA - Experience and endurance proved major factors in Martin Honorio keeping his NABO lightweight title with an overwhelming effort against Minnesota's formerly undefeated Wilton Hilario on Friday night.
An audience of more than 1,000 at Pechanga Resort and Casino saw Mexico City's Honorio (28-4-1, 14 KOs) show all of his boxing skills, including pinpoint combination punching, against Hilario (12-1-1, 9 KOs) in a bid to move up the lightweight rankings on the Goossen-Tutor card.
Honorio's ability to box and move and occasionally tie up the younger and seemingly stronger Hilario proved effective for the first five rounds.
Then, after several exchanges, Honorio, 30, let loose with several banging combinations, and down went the youngster. Hilario beat the count, but another four-punch combination dropped him again. He survived the rest of the round, barely.
In the second half of the fight, Honorio tried to stop the fast-rushing Hilario, but the big blow never came. Hilario, 26, on the other hand knew that the older fighter had wasted a slot of energy trying for the knockout. Hilario looked for his own knockout but could never connect. Uppercuts and wide right hands never found the mark, though he tried emphatically until the final bell.
All three judges scored it for Honorio, 120-106 and 119-107 twice.
"I had him hurt, but I couldn't finish him. I was ready to go 12 rounds," said Honorio, who was making his first title defense. "I'm happy because I'm one step closer to a championship, and I hope this helps me get there now."
Other bouts
Rico Ramos (15-0, 9 KOs) fired a left hook to the liver to finish off Mexico City's veteran Cecilio Santos (24-13-3, 14 KOs) in the fourth round of a junior featherweight match to keep his NABO Youth title. Referee Mendoza counted Santos out at 1:19 of the fourth round for the knockout.
At the sound of the bell Covina's John Molina (19-1, 15 KOs) started firing away at Mexico's Ricardo Medina. He traded body shots for about 20 seconds, then fired a right hand and left hook that staggered Medina. Down he went.
After beating the count, Medina (31-36-5, 17 KOs) tried to fend off Molina's second attack. This time a left hook followed by a right cross sent him down for good
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