Pinoy boxer Pumicpic loses decision to Pagara conqueror Juarez in Mexico

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxer Richard Pumicpic went the 10-round distance in a losing effort to Mexican toughman Cesar Juarez, dropping a unanimous decision at the Auditorio Municipal in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico on Saturday, October 29 (Sunday Manila time). The scores were 95-93, 96-93 and 98-91 in favor of the Mexican fighter.

Juarez, who in his last fight inflicted the first defeat of Albert Pagara’s career with an eighth round knockout win in July and pushed Nonito Donaire Jr to the brink in a losing effort last December, is now 19-5 (14 knockouts) while the Zamboanga del Norte native Pumicpic (18-8-2, 6 KOs) sees his 3-fight winning streak ended.

Despite being more suited for the bantamweight division than the junior featherweight class in which they fought, Pumicpic didn’t fly all the way across the Pacific to lay down. The 26-year-old Pumicpic weathered the storm of Juarez’s wild punches, mixing in uppercuts through the middle even as he was outgunned by Juarez’s activity. 

The fight turned briefly in round 6 when Juarez, already bleeding from an accidental headbutt earlier in the fight, was stunned by a counter right from Pumicpic. Later in the round Pumicpic was ruled knocked down, though he contended it was a slip that put him on the canvas.

Pumicpic would find success in the ensuing round as well, landing a counter right off a stutter feint which prompted Juarez to once again step up his attack.

Juarez was once again in serious trouble in round 10, nearly being dropped by another right hand that he didn’t see coming. Juarez survived the round despite taking a battering in the first minute, holding to clear his head until the final bell. – Rappler.com