Masterful Cesar Cuenca tames 'Wild Man' Yang Lianhui in Macau title grab
Legendary Argentine fighter moves on to 48 wins as he denies China a world championship
Argentina's Cesar Cuenca tamed the "Wild Man" with a masterful display to deny Yang Lianhui and China a world title at Saturday night's "Victory at the Venetian" at the Cotai Arena in Macau.
Cuenca came back from a fifth-round knock-down but wasn't hurt at all and had long sewn up the 12-round contest to lift the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight world title by a unanimous decision.
I knew he was good. I wanted to knock him out. I lost because of my inexperience
It was a frustrating night for 30-year-old Yang, who had been installed as a heavy favourite to win, but was taught a lesson by "El Distinto", who silenced an almost capacity crowd of 4,000 by outboxing and outclassing his opponent. Judges scored it 117-110, 115-110, 116-109.
"I knew he was good. I wanted to knock him out. I lost because of my inexperience," said Yang.
Yang was attempting to become only the second Chinese to win a world title after minimum weight fighter Xiong Zhaozhong, but he was in trouble as early as the first round when he was sent crashing through the ropes for a standing eight count. Yang wasn't hurt but just couldn't outbox the Argentine, who scored points almost at will and showed just why he is still unbeaten after 48 professional fights.
