Yomar Alamo Grabs WBO NABO Title; Outpoints Mendez in Telemundo Season Premiere

WBO.com

In a word, Yomar Alamo looked like “Magic” in his Telemundo debut.

The unbeaten 23-year old super lightweight outslugged a determined Manuel “La Tormenta” Mendez over 10 rounds Friday evening at Osceola Heritage Center in Kissimmee, Florida. Scores of 99-91 (twice) and 100-90—however accurate they were—didn’t tell the full tell of an entertaining headlining act in the 2019 spring season debut of Boxeo Telemundo.

Alamo established a brisk pace from the opening bell, never giving California’s Mendez a chance to settle into a rhythm. Constant punches in bunches had the 28-year old on the defensive for much of the night, but never straying far from the center of the ring.#

A flash of power shots had Mendez in trouble midway through round two, perhaps the closest point in the contest where either combatant threatened to score a knockdown. The moment quickly passed, but momentum remaining squarely with Alamo.

Mendez did his best to turn the tide in a spirited round four, catching the Caguas, Puerto Rico native off-guard with power shots upstairs. Alamo took the shots well, rebounding in the middle rounds to put additional separation between the two on the scorecards.

Another surge from Mendez came in round seven, although Alamo (16-0, 12KOs) was better prepared. The sequence made for fun two-way exchanged, as would be the case down the stretch except with Alamo enjoying the upper hand for the balance of the fight.

Mendez (16-5-3, 11KOs) returns to the West Coast with his third straight loss, and now just 1-4-1 in his last six starts. Friday’s bout marked his first east of Texas, having primarily fought in California.

Alamo picks up his second straight win in Florida and third straight outside of his native Puerto Rico. The rising super lightweight debuted in the Sunshine State last July, scoring a 4th round knockout of Wilfredo Buelvas in a different part of Kissimmee.

Also on the show, 2016 U.S. Olympian and current bantamweight prospect Antonio Vargas ran his pro record to a perfect 10-0 (4KOs). The local favorite—fighting in his Kissimmee hometown for the sixth time in his young career—made quick work of Lucas Rafael Baez (34-18-5, 18KOs), getting rid of the 33-year old Argentine journeyman in two rounds.

The win was Vargas’ 1st inside the distance since a 2nd round stoppage of Miguel Rebullosa in Oct. ’17.