Arnold Barboza Jr vs Danielito Zorrilla – Results & Post-Fight Report

Arnold Barboza Jr kept on course for a world title shot, as he took the vacant WBO Intercontinental super lightweight title with a clear decision win over Danielito Zorrilla at Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.

Both men came into the scheduled ten round contest unbeaten, and it was the home fighter that came out on top. Barboza Jr (27-0, KO10) was on a run of three straight ten round points wins, the last a near shutout of Antonio Moran last August, while Puerto Rican Zorrilla (16-1, KO12) was something of an unknown quantity, but was coming off a stunning second round knockout of former world title challenger, Pablo Cesar Cano.

Barboza was simply too active in this one for Zorrilla, and began with a solid body shot in the opener, before working well on the counter, and landing with an uppercut in round two. After a quiet third, Barboza seemed to stun Zorrilla with a right hand momentarily in the fourth, and landed well again with combination shots to round out the fifth frame.

Barboza was a step ahead almost throughout, and, after another assured couple of rounds, where he wobbled the visitor on more than one occasion, going into the final sessions, he seemed well ahead. Zorrilla did rally towards the conclusion, landing with an uppercut of his own in round nine, and as the fight came to a close, he landed several flush shots on a tiring Barboza, who made it to the final bell.

One score of 98-92, and a third at 97-93 ensured the 30-year-old Barboza went home the victor.

Elsewhere, also at super lightweight, big punching Raymond Muratalla (15-0, KO12) had to settle for an eight round points win against Jair Valtierra (16-2, KO8).Muratalla scored a fourth round knockdown, but couldn’t remove Valtierra from battle, eventually winning 80-71 on all three scorecards.

At heavyweight, Stephan Shaw (17-0, KO13) wasted little time, dropping Bernardo Marquez (14-5-1, KO10) three times on the way to a first round victory. The second heavyweight attraction also lasted less than a round, as Richard Torrez (2-0, KO2) dispatched Roberto Zavala Jr (2-2-1, KO2) in less than a minute.

Jorge Marron Jr (20-3-2, KO7) and Adrian Yung (28-7-3, KO22) couldn’t be separated in their welterweight six rounder, as the pair fought to a majority draw.

Floyd Diaz (6-0, KO2) halted Pedro Salome (3-1-1, KO1) in three rounds, and featherweight prospect Austin Brooks (7-0, KO2) took all four rounds against Victor Saravia (1-3, KO1).