World Boxing Association (WBA) middleweight (72.5 kg) champion Erislandy Lara retained his title after defeating Johan Gonzalez with a unanimous decision in San Antonio, Texas.
"The judges' scorecards said it all: 118-108, 120-106, and 119-107, all for Lara," the WBA reported on its official website, which was monitored in Jakarta on Tuesday.
In that fight, both boxers showed a huge difference in experience and ring intelligence between champion and challenger.
Lara set the tone from the start, dropping Gonzalez in the first round with a sharp, well-timed combination of punches that caught the challenger by surprise.
From there, the Cuban champion fought to his liking, controlling the distance with his trademark jab , nimble footwork and sharp counter punches, systematically neutralizing Gonzalez's every attempt to apply pressure.
Gonzalez, known for his knockout power , tried to show his aggression in the middle rounds, but he never managed to penetrate Lara's defense.
The Venezuelan challenger's determination kept him upright, but the gap grew as the champion continued to grind him down.
