By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Former multi-division champion Jorge Arce (57-6-2, 44KOs) pulled off a big upset by stopping previously undefeated Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (20-1-1, 17KOs) in the twelfth round to capture the WBO super bantamweight title.

The fight began at a fast pace. Arce was charging forward and throwing power punches with both hands. Vazquez made him miss, and made him pay. They were throwing and landing some heavy shots in the second round. Arce continued to pressure Vazquez and threw a high volumr of punches, while Vazquez would get in his counters. The third round was a war, with Vazquez refusing to move and began to trade big blows with the challenger on the inside. At the end of the third, there appeared to be a cut on the left side of Arce's face, which likely came from a clash of heads.

At the end of the fourth, a counter left hook sent Arce down. The knockdown almost came at the bell. Referee Joe Cortez gave Arce a standing eight and the round came to a close. When the fifth round began, Arce charged at Vazquez to battle on the inside. Both were landing punches, but Vazquez was landing the harder blows. 

After a very active sixth, they were trading some very big shots in the seventh. Vazquez was landing some heavy leather on Arce. They were standing and trading big punches to close the round. The eight was another active round. Arce was missing more than he was landing. Vazquez picked his counters with care. They traded punches after the bell. After a quiet ninth and tenth, they resumed their trading activities in the eleventh. Arce staged a big rally in the final minute as he landed numerous well placed power shots to the head. Vazquez looked very tired when the round was over.

At the start of the twelfth round, Arce took the fight to a very tired Vazquez. He pinned him against the ropes and unloaded with a dozens upon dozens of punches until the towel flew in from the corner of Vazquez.