In a battle of former world champions, Daniel Roman bested Juan Carlos Payano via unanimous decision for their WBC superbantam eliminator at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) on Showtime Pay-Per-View.
Judges Kevin Morgan, David Sutherland and Don Trella had identical scores of 116-112 in favor of Los Angeles born Roman.
The fight was close throughout with Roman putting up the pressure on Payano with combinations as Payano looked to counter. As the fight came to a close in the last round, Roman connected a lethal left to the face of Payano that sent Payano down and almost out from the ropes. But Referee Johnny Canlas ruled the knockdown too late as time already expired.
“I don’t take anything away from Payano," Roman said after the fight. "I knew it would be a tough fight. He brought everything he could and I took it, made it a fight and came out victorious.
“He kept on landing his uppercut to the body early, but we adjusted our defense to avoid the shot and tried to pressure. I couldn’t brawl with him, so I had to box and use my distance a little more.
“He was countering me well because I wasn’t taking the distance away. I had to either block or get out of the way. After I started doing that, it worked out and I started throwing combinations. I saw I was hurting him to the body so I kept putting pressure on."
Roman, 31, the former WBA and IBF superbantam champion, now looks forward to challenge the winner of the Luis Nery vs Aaron Alameda who are fighting for the vacant WBC superbantam title in the same card. Roman improved his record to 28-3-1, 10KOs.
“We’re at the level and ready to fight the Luis Nery vs. Aaron Alameda winner," Roman said.
Payano, a native of the Dominican Republic who now resides in Miami, Florida and the former WBA and IBO bantamweight champion, dropped to 21 wins with four losses.
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