“JOJO” PREVAILS IN RUGGED WBC ELIMINATOR

Californian “JoJo” Diaz Jr. (25-0, 13 KOs), won  a unanimous decision victory in twelve rounds, defeating the previously unbeaten tough as old boots Mexican, Rafael “Big Bang” Rivera (25-1-2, 16 KOs) , in a World Boxing Council featherweight title eliminator at the “T-Mobile Arena” in Las Vegas.

Southpaw Jojo,  was more accurate, building a significant lead on the scorecards, but “Big Bank”  who`s right eye swelled up like a Tsar plum,  never gave up,  landing some heavy punches especially right hooks.  He rallied giving Jojo a torrid eighth round.  But the talented Californian came back in the next stanza, with denting body shots and crisp, stinging hooks to the head.  Both really opened up in the twelfth and final round, with Jojo`s attack being significantly more measured.  “Big bang,”  ended with a nose bleed and Jojo`s right cheek was swelling.

The Judges scorecards of 119-109, 119-109 and 120-108, reflected the technical superiority of Jojo, but none the less, he`d been in a gruelling raw boned fight.  He`s now much closer to facing WBC featherweight champion, Gary Russell Jr.