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Srisaket Sor Rungvisai retained his WBC super flyweight title with an exciting majority decision over Juan Francisco Estrada on Saturday night.
The Thai champion (44-4-1) controlled the early rounds and withstood a late charge from Mexico's Estrada (36-3), leading to a dynamite 12th round that brought the lively crowd of 7,827 to its feet.
Sor Rungvisai, a near unknown in international boxing two years ago, has won 18 consecutive bouts, including two defenses of the title he took from Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez in a major upset last year.
Puerto Rico's McWilliams Arroyo won a majority decision over Mexico's Carlos Cuadras in the 115-pound penultimate bout of the latest "Superfly" show at the Forum. Donnie Nietes of the Philippines also defended his IBF flyweight title with a seventh-round stoppage of Argentina's Juan Carlos Reveco.
Sor Rungvisai won the bout 117-111 and 115-113 on two cards, and a third scored it 114-114.
"It was a very good fight," Sor Rungvisai said. "He hits very hard, and I like his style, but I know I won the fight."
The quicker Estrada got off to a strong start to thrill the pro-Mexican crowd, but Sor Rungvisai asserted his combination of body shots, counterpunching and head movement. Sor Rungvisai tagged Estrada repeatedly in the middle rounds, but Estrada put together a strong flurry in the eighth to begin a surge.
Estrada appeared to win several late rounds with faster hands. Both boxers fought desperately in the 12th, and both were raised in victory by their cornermen after the bell.
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