Ruling Helps Ramirez Win Title

Junior lightweight Antonio Ramirez of the Dominican Republic won the vacant North American Boxing Organization title Monday night at the Arrowhead Pond before an announced crowd of 3,640 with a controversial 12-round split decision over Julio Cesar Sanchez-Leon of Mexicali, Mexico.

Sanchez-Leon (17-10) was penalized a point by referee Robert Byrd in the 10th round for repeated use of the shoulder. That point proved to be the difference between a draw and a Ramirez victory. Lou Filippo gave it to Sanchez Leon, 114-113, Chuck Hassett had it 115-112 for Ramirez and Raul Caiz gave it to Ramirez, 114-113.

“I didn’t feel that was the difference,” Ramirez (14-1-4) said. “For every one shot, I hit him three or four times.”

The fight was a bruising battle with little defense. The third round had the crowd standing by the end as both fighters took their turn throwing damaging flurries. After being beat to the punch in the 11th round, Ramirez landed several big right hands and easily carried the 12th round.

“I’m hoping this will open the door for a world title shot,” Ramirez said.

The main event between flyweight Isidro Garcia (18-1-1) of Los Angeles and Antonio Ruiz (18-16-5) of Los Angeles was for Garcia’s NABO title, but it didn’t have half the action of the co-main event. By the ninth round, the crowd was booing both fighters for lack of activity. Two minutes 35 seconds into 10th round, Ruiz’s corner stopped the bout, which was being dominated by the slippery and bloody Garcia.

A minute into the fight, Garcia was accidentally head-butted high on his forehead. The cut bled throughout the fight, but it didn’t slow down Garcia, whose fight with Ruiz in March was ruled a technical draw because another Ruiz head-butt stopped the bout in the fourth round.