Mickey Bey dethroned defending IBF Lightweight World Champion Miguel Vazquez with a 12-round split decision victory, scored 115-113 Bey, 115-113 Vazquez and 119-109 Bey, in an extremely tactical match.
Vazquez (34-4, 33 KOs) was riding a 13-fight win streak and making the seventh defense of his title against Bey (21-1-1, 10 KOs), who became the second fighter under the Mayweather Promotions banner to win a world title.
“I’m No. 1 in the lightweight division,’’ Bey said. “He was No. 1 and now it’s me. I’m not surprised that I won, I’m just really happy. He was head-butting and holding the entire time. I won every round and I beat him with one hand (hurt his right). I told my team I wasn’t going to slip and now I’m No. 1 in the division.’’
Vazquez landed 89 total punches and connected on only 22 percent of his shots compared to Bey’s 81 punches and 21 percent.
“It was a good fight and Mickey Bey was a dignified opponent.” Vazquez said. “He fought strong but I anticipated he would fight that way. I don’t have much to say. A win is a win, what can I say. I thought the fight was close. I thought I won.”
In the opening bout of the PPV telecast, James De La Rosa (23-2, 13 KOs) handed Alfredo Angulo (22-5, 18 KOs) his third consecutive loss in a 10-round unanimous decision, scored 98-90, 96-92 and 99-89. De La Rosa was more active and accurate, landing 41 percent of his power punches in the most significant victory of his career.
In a live bout on “COUNTDOWN LIVE: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2,” Humberto Soto (65-8, 35 KOs) won an upset foul-filled unanimous 10-round decision John Molina Jr. (27-5, 22 KOs). The junior welterweight scrap was scored 96-91 and 95-92 twice.
