Tough Sylvester ?Silver? Lopez, the reigning WBC International super flyweight champion who is ranked No. 1 captured the WBC silver title with an eighth round TKO of champion Oscar ?Ceviche? Ibarra who is ranked No. 2 in an exciting fight card at the Plaza De Toros in Queretaro, Mexico on Sunday.
Lopez, a prot?g? of Gabriel ?Bebot? Elorde started strong and used a stinging left jab to advantage to give him a 39-37 lead at the end of four rounds on the scorecards of all three judges.
Ibarra fought back and made things interesting before the well-conditioned Lopez nailed him with a series of punches after trapping Ibarra on the ropes forcing referee Gerald Ritter to call a halt at 1:23 of the eighth round.
At the time of the stoppage Filipino referee Rey Danseco and American Julie Lederman had Lopez in front 67-66 while Mexican judge David Candido had Ibarra leading 67-66.
With the victory Lopez earned a mandatory shot at current world champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai of Thailand.
Two other Filipinos Ricky Sismundo and veteran Juanito Rubillar however were unable to duplicate Lopez? feat and were beaten.
Sismundo lost by a 7th round knockout to Dante ?Crazy? Jardon, the current WBC featherweight youth world champion in a final eliminator for the WBC world title while Rubillar lost a lopsided unanimous ten round decision to Mexico?s flyweight champion Edgar ?Power? Jimenez.
At the official weigh in Lopez came in at 113.75 and Ibarra 113.95 while Jardon tipped the scales at 129.4 and Sismundo at 130. Jimenez weughed 113.75 pounds while Rubillar checked in ay 114.50.
The 23 year old Lopez improved his record to 17-3-1 with 13 knockouts. He was coming off a 1st round TKO over Mexican veteran Everado Morales last May 14 in a WBC International title fight.
Ibarra dropped to 27-5 with 18 knockouts and failed to follow the path set by his cousin, featherweight Jhonny Gonz?lez, and become world champion.
The WBC website quoted Ibarra who said ?I know that my rival is a very good fighter, he is number one on the ranking and that?s why I prepared myself like never before in my career.? But Lopez who is known to stay in shape even when not fighting proved to be the more durable fighter.
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