Argentina’s IBF light-flyweight champion Luis Alberto Lazarte (48-9-1, 18KO’s) isn’t about to let his title go easily. After all, it took him six World title shots to win one. Some losses were unlucky, some were close, and spanned three weight divisions. So when Lazarte defeated Brian Viloria conqueror Carlos Tamara in his last fight to take the title you can be sure he was determined to hang on to it.

Fighting in front of a passionate crowd at the Club Once Unidos in his hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina Lazarte fought hard for twelve rounds to make a succesful first defence over Nicaragua’s Nerys Espinoza (29-6-1, 20KO’s). The fight was hard and gruelling but ultimately Lazarte was always in control, using relentless aggression to grind out the win.

The fight started badly for Lazarte. As the fighters came together they clashed heads nastily and Lazarte came off worse, picking up a cut over his right eye. It spurred Espinoza on but the cutman did a great job and it didn’t really trouble Lazarte again throughout the fight.

Although never in full control of his opponent, Lazarte forced a high pace and made Espinoza work more than he wanted to. Being the bigger, taller fighter it would have probably been a better idea for Espinoza to fight at range, but more often than not found himself on the inside, fighting Lazarte’s fight.

Lazarte isn’t the most cultured fighter and some of his punches were swung from the back row, but his fast shoeshine combinations and work on the front foot always gave him an edge. There were a few sticky moments for Lazarte, but ultimately he was never in much danger, and for the last round or two coasted, knowing the victory was in the bag.

Espinoza’s frustration became apparent in the final round when he threw two right hands after the referee had called break. Neither were devastating punches, and the second one looked more likely to hit referee Samuel Viruet than Lazarte, but Viruet took umbrage and docked a point from Espinoza. It was a needless act as Lazarte was always going to win the fight, and he did. The judges gave him the decision by relatively comfortable margins of 116-111 on all three cards.

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