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Alberto Machado tops Rafael Mensah, retains WBA title

All three judges scored the fight 120-107 for Machado.

Machado (20-0, 16 KO) was making the first defense of the title he won last October from Jezreel Corrales. He dropped Mensah (31-1, 23 KO) late in the first round on a vicious right hook, and pretty much dominated the fight from then on, with Mensah’s right cheek swelling noticeably from the damage inflicted.

Mensah, who was game but overmatched here, was rocked badly at the end of the fourth round, leading to a really dominant fifth round for Machado. But the Puerto Rican titleholder did let off the gas a bit for a few rounds, which he still won, anyway, and never really got close to a proper stoppage, though there was an argument to be made that referee Tony Weeks or Mensah’s corner should have stepped in at some point.

Machado landed 234 of 780 (30%) total punches, and 170 of 392 (43%) of his power shots, compared to just 90 of 441 (20%) total punches from Mensah, and 59 of 277 (21%) power shots from the Ghanaian.

credit: badlefthook.com

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