Willibaldo Garcia and Rene Calixto provided another thrilling slugfest.
This time around, they even managed to produce a winner.
Garcia came on strong down the stretch to claim a split decision and the vacant IBF junior-bantamweight title in their entertaining rematch. Calixto claimed a 115-113 tally on one card, overruled by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 for Garcia in their “ESPN Knockout” headliner Friday evening from Gimnasio Marcelino Gonzalez in Zacatecas, Mexico.
The title win by Garcia came almost five months to the day of his split decision draw with Calixto last December 21 in Shizuoka, Japan.
The all-Mexico battle was brought to the fighters’ home country this time, courtesy of Garcia’s side – MP Promotions and BXSTRS – which won a purse bid in February.
Both fighters attempted to establish their jab in the opening round. The threat of a boxing match didn’t last very long, as Garcia quickly went to his power game. The 35-year-old slugger loaded up on wide right hands, some of which found their mark.
Calixto made a point to target Garcia’s body in the second. The unbeaten contender dug his right hand underneath Garcia’s elbow whenever the opening was there. Garcia adjusted and returned to his haymaker style of punching.
Action picked up in a big way early in the third. The fighters traded power shots in a corner, the two-way exchange reminiscent of their previous slugfest. Calixto managed to enjoy the upper hand as he connected with rights both downstairs and up top.
Momentum was seized by Garcia in the fourth, as he brought the fight to his younger foe. Calixto did his best to return fire, but he was forced to clinch more than he preferred when the two were at close quarters.
A body attack by Calixto was quickly nullified by Garcia, who connected with wide power shots around his opponent’s guard in the fifth. Both boxers landed right hands to the other’s midsection late in the frame, Calixto getting in the better licks.
Garcia scored with a right hand at center ring midway through the sixth. The moment was immediately answered by a right hand-left hook combination by Calixto. A body shot by Calixto late in the round opened up an opportunity to land a left hook upstairs.
Calixto was dialed in with the hook. Garcia continued to take it on the chin – literally – and even tapped his beard in a motion to dare Calixto to keep it coming in the seventh. An attempt by Garcia to respond was thwarted by the referee, who moved in too soon. Garcia fired a wide left hand that badly missed the mark.
Time was called late in the eighth round when Garcia suffered a left elbow injury during a clinch. Calixto was warned by the referee for grabbing and bending his opponent’s arm. It didn’t erase the success enjoyed by the unbeaten contender, who earlier slammed home a left hook on Garcia’s chin.
A clash of heads in the ninth round left Calixto with a cut under his right eye. The wound was examined by the ringside physician at the start of the 10th before action was permitted to resume. Neither boxer enjoyed much offensive success in the round, though Garcia managed to drop an overhand right on Calixto’s cheek as the two were along the ropes.
With the fight hanging in the balance and the threat of another draw very much on the table, Garcia and Calixto both opened up their attack in the 11th. Garcia enjoyed a surge as he landed a series of power shots midway through the frame. Calixto came on just before the bell, as a series of left hooks and right hands had Garcia pinned in a corner.
Garcia poked a long left hand early in the 12th and final round. It found its mark and set up a right hand behind it as Calixto was quickly forced on the defensive.
A right hook and left hand by Garcia was countered by a Calixto left hook with less than 90 seconds to go in the fight. Garcia chased Calixto in the final minute, initially missing with his power shots before he buckled down and closed out strong.
It was enough for Garica to come away with his first title win, on his second try.
Garcia advanced to 23-5-2 (13 KOs) and left with the IBF junior-bantamweight title previously vacated by Fernando Martinez, 18-0 (9 KOs) last October.
Calixto, 23-1-1 (9 KOs), suffered his first career defeat and is now winless in his past two starts.
Garcia now joins Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Phumulela Cafu on the junior bantamweight title stage.
Martinez still holds the WBA belt, which he defended in a repeat win over Kazuto Ioka earlier this month. Rodriguez, 21-0 (14 KOs), is the lineal and WBC champion, while Cafu, 11-0-3 (8 KOs), holds the WBO belt. Rodriguez and Cafu are set to meet in a July 19 unification match in the greater Dallas area.
Garcia will have wiggle room for a voluntary defense while his next mandatory is decided. As previously reported by BoxingScene, Andrew Moloney and Argi Cortes were ordered to work out terms for a final eliminator. They are due to meet later this summer.