WAKAYAMA, Japan -- Samuel Serrano of Puerto Rico regained the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior lightweight title with a unanimous decision today over Japanese champion Yasutsune Uehara in a 15-round title match.
There were no knockdowns, but Serrano, 28, frustrated the Japanese champion by dancing around the ring and unleashing blows as Uehara tried to step in.
Uehara, 31, took too many effective blows to his face as he chased Serrano around the ring. Uehara failed to connect with his deadly right hook, the weapon he he used to win the title with a sixth-round knockout over Serrano in Detroit last August.
The fight was devoid of fast-paced action, with both fighters preferring to clinch when in close.
After the boxers fought evenly the first two rounds, Serrano took a lead in the third with a few fast left jabs to Uehara's face. Serrano landed a hard right hook to Uehara's head in the fifth round, but Uehara shot back with a right to Serrano's head.
Serrano utilized his three-inch reach advantage, and Uehara was unable to break through the Puerto Rican's defense throughout the fight.
All three judges ruled in favor of Serrano. South African referee Stanley Christodoul had it 147-143, while American judges Harold Lederman and MitchellGlienna scored it 144-142 and 145-142, respectively.
Before his loss last year to Uehara, Serrano had successfully defended his title 10 times after he won it with a decision over Ben Villaflore of the Philippines in October 1976.
Serrano weighed in at 129 pounds and Uehara at the class limit of 130 pounds. Serrano improved his record to 42-3-1 with 15 knockouts, while Uehara suffered his fifth defeat against 27 triumphs.
