5th October, 2014
Cuba’s Rances Barthelemy made a successful first defense of his International Boxing Federation super featherweight world title on Saturday with a lopsided unanimous decision over Fernando David Saucedo.
Barthelemy, who improved to 21-0 with 12 wins inside the distance, was rarely tested by the Argentine veteran, winning every round on all three judges’ scorecards to gain the victory by three scores of 120-108.
Barthelemy was making his first defense of the title he won by unanimous decision over Argenis Mendez in a world title rematch on July 10.
That followed a first meeting between Barthelemy and Mendez in which Barthelemy landed a knockout blow that was deemed to have come an instant after the bell to end the second round — resulting in a no-decision.
Saucedo fell to 52-6-3 and saw a 14-fight winning streak come to an end.
He lost for the first time since dropping a unanimous decision to Indonesia’s Chris John in a World Boxing Association featherweight world title bout.