In front of a sold-out crowd at Fantasy Springs Resort & Casino on Saturday night, Andrew Cancio rebounded from a first-round knockdown to upset Alberto Machado to win the WBA Super Featherweight Title in a thrilling performance. (photos by Tom Hogan/Hogan Photos).
In a co-main event that saw the champion hit the canvas, Rey Vargas defeated Franklin Manzanilla to retain the WBC Super Bantamweight Title.
Joseph “JoJo” Diaz Jr. moved up to 130 pounds and defeated his friend Charles Huerta by unanimous decision, and the new WBC Continental Americas Lightweight World Titlist Adrian Estrella outlasted Oscar Duarte in a 10-round battle.
Andrew Cancio - “This was fight of my life. I feel extremely great winning this world title by knockout. I did not let this fight go to the judge’s scorecards. It’s been a long road and it felt like we thought it would: unbelievable. For me to execute a plan like we did feels great. He caught me early, but it was a flash knockdown. I got my legs back and got my composure. I was never out the fight. I’m extremely happy.”
On what he had to do to win: “Go back to gym, and I know I had a lot to prove. I know people doubted me and gave me no chance. I knocked him out. So hopefully all you critics who didn’t think I have a chance, and it would be an easy win for Machado. Now you got a world-class fighter and I’m here baby.”
On the game plan: “Body, body, body, and upper cuts. After he dropped me, I relaxed and stuck with the game plan. He was standing up so I started attacking the body. I hit hard and I started to dig, dig and dig.”
