Lucas Bastida vs. José Villalobos - Mario Margossian
South American middleweight champion, Argentinian rising prospect Lucas “El Tornado” Bastida, dominated experienced José “Tsunami” Villalobos, by a wide unanimous decision after ten rounds, and defended for the third time his crown, at the main event of an exciting boxing night on Friday, April 30th, at the Polideportivo Libertad, in Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina, promoted by Argentina Boxing Promotions, of Mario Margossian.
In an action-packed fight, Bastida (17-1, 9 KOs), 24 years old, from Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, made a huge difference from the beginning and was close to finish the tough Villalobos (13-7-2, 8 KOs), 27, from Córdoba. In the first round, the champion and #1 of the Argentinean middleweight ranking sent the challenger down twice, first with a right cross to the temple, and then with a strong left cross to the jaw. Even in that first chapter, Villalobos -visibly hurt- was deducted one point for spitting his mouthpiece on purpose by referee Gerard Poggi.
After landing powerful shots on the second and third rounds, in the fourth “El Tornado” discharged another fast and vicious right cross to the jaw of the challenger, who went down again, and on his back. Bastida was close to finishing the job. Every time he landed his long and powerful blows, his opponent felt the pain. Nevertheless, Villalobos used his experience and managed to survive. Even more, in some chapters, he was able to connect sharp crosses and some hooks, responding to the attack. Although he was still in fight, he was unable to hurt the young prospect who continued extending differences. And in the end, the champion repeated his long crosses to secure a well-deserved victory.
The scorecards were: Mariano Páez 96½-91½, Alejandro Bokser 94-92, and Guillermo Armani 96-91, all for Bastida.
With this result, Bastida, who weighed 156.3 lbs., defended for the third time the belt he conquered after annihilating Gonzalo Chaparro in less than one round on January 11th, 2020, in Mar del Plata, and defended devastating Sergio López in one round, and Germán Peralta in three, on January 16th. With his triumph over Villalobos (159.6 lbs.), he continues his way to the top.
Beyond the main fight, a heated card completed the night. In super bantamweight division, Gloria “La India” Yancaqueo (120.1 lbs. and 8-11-3, 2 KOs) defeated awarded and former world title champion Débora “La Gurisa” Dionicius (119.4 lbs. and 30-3, 6 KOs), by a controversial unanimous decision after six rounds. The scorecards were: Mariano Páez 58½-58, Alejandro Bokser 59-56, and Guillermo Armani 58½-57.
Dionicius, 33, from Villaguay, Entre Ríos, who had thirteen defenses of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight title, after moving up in weight and became Argentinian bantamweight monarch, was clearly in control of the fight. Although the tough Yancaqueo, 33, from Santa Rosa, La Pampa, complicated her and connected her blows, the difference in precision and damage made by Dionicius for visibly more. In an untidy bout, she managed to impact the best punches of the fight, and after the decision, the controversy began.
In another attraction of the evening, in a rematch flyweight division, current Argentinian junior flyweight champion and former world title challenger, Ayelén “Piru” Granadino (110 lbs. and 6-1-2), from Claypole, Buenos Aires, outboxed María Sol Baumstarh (108.4 lbs. and 2-5-1, 1 KO), from Brandsen, Buenos Aires, by majority decision after six rounds, and after their four rounds majority decision draw on April 20th, 2019. The scorecards were: Mariano Páez 58-57½, Alejandro Bokser 58-56½, and Guillermo Armani 58½-58½.
Finally, in lightweight division, debutant Mariano Bertola (128.5 lbs. and 1-0), from Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, defeated Esteban Castillo (131.8 lbs. and 0-1), from Santa Rosa, La Pampa, by unanimous decision after four rounds. The scorecards were: Mariano Páez 40-36, Alejandro Bokser 40-36½, and Guillermo Armani 39½-37.
