Julio Ceja: record, next fight and profile →
Julio Ceja retained his place among the top bantamweights in the world, though forced to go to the scorecards for just the fourth time in his career. The free-swinging contender was extended the 10 round distance by Oscar Blanquet, though prevailing by unanimous decision Saturday evening at Auditorio Municipal in Naucalpan, Mexico.
The thing about fighting for your first major title at just 20 years of age is that perhaps you are not fully ready for such an opportunity. The upside is that there's plenty of time to regroup and rebuild if the night doesn't go as planned. Still very much in the prime of his career at 22, Julio Ceja is confident that a bantamweight title is within his future. The hard-hitting contender continues to build towards another crack at alphabet glory, seeking to extend his winning streak to five straight as he faces Oscar Blanquet in a scheduled 12-round bout tonight in Jiqulipilco, Mexico.
Martyrs Square in Toluca, State of Mexico. In the main event, WBC junior flyweight champion Ibeth Zamora (21-8, 5 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Yessica Chavez (21-4-3, 4 KOs). All three judges saw it 98-92. The fight was a war, with neither taking a back step but the champion put in the better work and landed the harder shots. WBC silver bantamweight world champion Julio Ceja (28-1, 26KOs) knocked out Filipino Mark Duran (13-11-2, 5KOs) at 2:15 of the fifth round.
The weights are in for a loaded card on Saturday night at Martyrs Square in Toluca, State of Mexico. In the main event, WBC junior flyweight champion Ibeth Zamora (20-8, 5 KOs) will defend her title against Yessica Chavez (21-3-3, 4 KOs). Both fighters came in at 108-pounds. Also on the card. WBC silver bantamweight world champion Julio Ceja (27-1, 25KOs) will face Filipino Mark Duran (13-10-2, 5KOs). Ceja was 118-pounds and Duran was 116.5-pounds.
Julio Ceja saw his ring return delayed by three weeks, but now has a firm location and opponent to make up for his troubles. The free-swinging bantamweight contender will face Christian Esquivel on November 22 in Toluca, Mexico. The bout is designed to establish a future challenger for current bantamweight king Shinsuke Yamanaka. Ceja (27-1, 25KOs) has won three straight fights since suffering the lone setback of his career, a 12-round decision to Jamie McDonnell last May in Doncaster, England. McDonnell won a vacant title for his effort, one that was stripped from him before the Brit re-entered the title fray this past May.
Bantamweight contender Julio Ceja will return to the ring November 1 in Mexico, as he continues his quest for another title shot. An opponent has yet to be named for the fight, which will air live on Televisa. The free-swinging knockout artist has won three straight since suffering the lone loss of his career, a majority decision to Jamie McDonnell in their vacant title fight on the road in the United Kingdom last May.
The news of Britain’s Paul Butler vacating his bantamweight title barely a month after dethroning countryman Stuart Hall leaves a wide open opportunity for Randy Caballero to not only fight for the title, but do so while not having to stray very far from home. The lingering question, however, is against whom that opportunity will come. Caballero (21-0, 13KOs) earned a mandatory title shot following his 8th round knockout of Kohei Oba this past April in Japan. The bout was his first outside of the United States and just his third overall outside of California. A road trip was expected for his first title shot, regardless of the turnout of Hall’s failed voluntary title defense versus Butler in June.
Mexico's Julio Ceja blasted his Filipino opponent Ranel Suco for a TKO victory in the tenth round and retained the world silver bantamweight championship of the WBC in the main event slot at the Foro Polanco in Mexico City. Suco was down in the third. He went down again in the fifth after a hard shot made his knees buckle and a glove touched the canvas. During the tenth, Ceja was unloading with both hands as he pinned Suco against the ropes and referee Gelasius Perez had no choice but to stop the fight at 2:48 minutes. Ceja improved his record to 27 wins with 25 knockouts and one defeat, while Ranel Suco was 17 wins, 10 by KO and eight setbacks.
Earlier today, WBC bantamweight silver champion Julio "Gallito" Ceja and his Philippine counterpart Ranel "FRANCOTIRADOR" Suco came face-to-face at the final press conference for their Saturday night title fight at the Polanco-Forum in Mexico City.
Julio Ceja scouted with interest the outcome of Shinsuke Yamanaka’s title defense versus Belgium’s Stephane Jamoye, in which the reigning bantamweight champ scored a 9th round knockout Wednesday evening in Osaka, Japan.