BY: DEAN MOORE – SPORTS ON AIR USA CORRESPONDENT
LAS VEGAS- Giovanni Cabrera is unbeaten no more.
The lightweight contender’s immaculate record was stained with its first professional defeat when it met the fate of Isaac Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs) who captured a 12-round unanimous decision verdict at the T-Mobile Arena.
Cabrera fell to 21-1 with 7 knockouts.
It was a back and forthbattle between two willing sluggers but when the bell sounded the judges saw it at 114-113 for Cabrera, 114-113 for Cruz, and 115-112 for Cruz.
Cabrera relied on a stiff jab to hold off the shorter but relentless Cruz at bay. Undeterred, Cruz kept firing the power punches and proved to be the busier fighter to get the two judges’ nod.
Cabrera kept his disance amid the wlter of relentless pressure from Cruz, who didn’t find much success early on. Beginning in the third round, though, Cruz got going and Cabrera was warned for excessive holding.
The fight went ugly in the fourth and fifth rounds. Cruz was doing his best to make things happen, landing at times, with Cabrera moving and boxing in a clash of styles.
In the sixth, Cruz connected several heavy shots to the head and body, which Cabrera was able to absord without going down.
The seventh was highlighted by Cruz’s continued barrage while Cabrera stood in the fire and traded heavy blows. In the eight, Cruz lost a point for head-butting
Cruz continued to plow his way through in the ninth while Cabrera proved to have a granite chin despite a bleeding nose.
Cruz closed out the show with more solid attacks in the 10th, 11th and 12th rounds.
