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Barrera Wins Decision Over Juarez
 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH was the weekend celebration of Mexican Independence Day, were some 10,421 boxing fans packed the MGM Grand Arena expecting a war between Marco Antonio Barrera (63-4, 42 KOs) of Mexico City, Mexico and Ricardo Juarez (26-3, 18 KOs) of Houston, Texas. Although fans got their monies worth on the fight card, it certainly didn't come from the main event. Barrera used his jab throughout the twelve rounds that was about all he did. Juarez used his power and heart but unfortunately didn't gather enough points to win the fight.
The fight that was most popular however, was the co-featured bout between Israel Vazquez and Jhonny Gonzalez. This fight was a reminder of how Barrera fought against great fighters such as Erik Morales, according to the score cards. Barrera won the decision over Juarez. Judge Hubert Minn had it 117-111 for Barrera while Judges Chuck Giampa and Dave Moretti scored 115-113 for Barrera. The Compu Box stats showed Barrera throwing a total of 564 punches to Juarez's. 542 connecting 178 to Juarez's 134. Barrera threw 369 jabs to Juarez 198 connecting 105 to Juarez 34. In power punches Barrera threw 195 to Juarez 344 landing 73 to Juarez's 100.
 Marco Antonio Barrera who has retained his WBC Title at 130 pounds has done so for 11 years. He does what it takes to win a fight but not necessarily as a total warrior. Ricardo Juarez a strong fighter with heavier hands than Barrera proved his point as a fighter as he did in their first fight in May. During the press conference Barrera said he gave Juarez boxing lesson. "I learned never to fight on the level of my opponent. I'm a champion. I moved very fast and I used my jab." Barrera looks to retire after he fights Manny Pacquiao and Oscar De La Hoya.
Ricardo Juarez though is looking to step up the pace. "Barrera didn't come to fight tonight. He came to box. There was one time he caught me with a good uppercut in the eye. He kept a good jab out there but he retreated after he threw the jab. He smothered me every time I tried to get inside. I was the aggressor again. He didn't want to fight," stated the young fighter.
The co-featured 12-round Super Bantamweight WBC World Title promoted by Golden Boy Promotions was a very exciting fight. Israel Vazquez (41-3, 30 KOs) of Houston, Texas proved to be a true warrior when he took on Jhonny Gonzalez (34-5, 28 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Vazquez who was knocked down twice in the 4th round and once in the 6th came back and landed punches that hurt Gonzalez, especially his nose. In the 7th round Vazquez scored again, landing an overhand right. Both fighters were bruised in the face slugging it out. Continuing his aggressive attack on Gonzales, Vazquez landed power shots in the 8th and 9th rounds. A tired Gonzalez had lost most of his defense at this juncture of the fight. That's when Vazquez repeatedly scored sending Gonzalez to the mat in the 10th round. Gonzalez's corner threw in the towel and Vasquez won the WBC Super Bantamweight World Title in 2:07 of round 10. Compu Box stats showed Vazquez throwing 627 punches to Gonzalez 882, landing 181 to Gonzalez 255. Vazquez threw 379 jabs to Gonzalez 614 connecting 72 to Gonzalez 117. One should note that Vazquez was behind on all three judges score cards at the time he TKO'd Gonzalez. Vazquez the underdog took advantage of Gonzalez mistakes.
"I dropped my left and didn't take care of myself," said Gonzalez. "I left myself open to Vazquez right," he concluded. Vazquez stated, "On the second knockdown, he caught me. I had my hands down and he caught me with a clean hook." In regard to the first knockdown of Gonzales, Vaaquez said "I nailed him with a nice right-hand. I started pushing even more. But there were only 30 seconds left in the round. I thought I got him again in the eighth but the referee called it a slip. It didn't matter anyway."
"Vasquez vs. Gonzalez is the kind of fight that boxing fans love," was the statement made by Allen Fawcett who plays Matt on CSI. Fawcett, like so many boxing fans, enjoys competitive fights. Both fighters, Vazquez and Gonzales battered each other in the middle rounds. Vasquez with a cut on his left eye and Gonzalez with a bloody nose and left eye nearly shut.
The first title bout of the evening was a 12-round Jr. Lightweight WBO World Title fight. Joan Guzman (26-0, 17 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic won a split decision over Jorge Rodrigo Barrios (47-3-1, 33 KOs) of Tigre, Buenos Aires, Argentina. This was a fight of boxing skills and one fighter out boxing the other. The major change in scoring came about when referee Vic Drakulich took away a point from Barrios in the 6th round. Had it not been for that deduction, the fight would have been a split draw. "I didn't think it was that close but I'll take the win anyway," said Guzman. Barrios who had trouble making weight, it was said he was 10 pounds over the Junior Lightweight limit when he arrived in Las Vegas the week of the fight. Guzman's power surprised Barrios. "I didn't get hurt from him but I didn't think his performance was enough to win. I was the aggressor in 8 of the rounds. I felt I won."
Barrios was the aggressor in the majority of the rounds but got hit numerous times by Guzman's left hooks, including some body shots in the middle rounds. Barrios on the other hand blocked Guzman punches but not enough in power punches. Guzman was repeatedly hitting him in the late rounds.
The under cards fight included Jorge Pezez Jr. taking on Derrick Campos and winning by split decision a 4-round bout.
In a 6-round bout Henry Crawford won by a knockout over Adam Wynant in 12 seconds of round 1. Craig McEwan won a 4-rounder middleweight title against George N. Montalvo in 2:16 of round 1. Anthony Martinez won a 4-round junior welterweight bout against Leon Green by knockout in 1:14 of the second round. 
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