Alberto Puello made history in August when he captured the vacant WBA super lightweight title.
The 28-year-old southpaw was able to fend off a stern challenge from the rugged Botirzhon Akhmedov in Hollywood, Florida to win a split decision in a bout televised by Showtime. Puello made history with the victory, becoming the first Dominican to win a world title in the weight class.
The WBA recognized his accomplishments by naming him as an honorable mention for their fighter of the month. The August winner was of course Oleksandr Usyk who successfully defended his WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles in his rematch against Anthony Joshua.
Puello’s trainer Bob Santos is very proud of his fighter’s achievement.
“Any other month and Puello wins fighter of the month hands down. Props to Usyk for another great victory,” Santos stated. “Puello dug down deep and did what he had to do against a very tough fighter. He will learn a lot from that performance and the sky is the limit on what he will be able to achieve in the sport.”
The IBF recently ordered Jeremias Ponce and Subriel to enter negotiations for their vacant super lightweight title with the fight expected to take place on October 15th on the Deontay Wilder-Robert Helenius pay-per-view undercard in Brooklyn.
If Puello has his way, he will face the winner in his next ring appearance.
“I want to fight the best fighters and win all the belts. May the best man win that fight and hopefully they will want to step in the ring with me and unify titles. All of us work with PBC so there is no reason for that fight not to happen. I know I’m the best in the division and I just need the chance to prove it in the ring,” said Puello.
Puello is now 21-0 as a professional and if a unification fight doesn’t materialize, hopes to be back in the ring before the end of the year.
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