Anchondo Loses Title And Unbeaten Record To Barrios

In boxing action Friday night, Jorge Rodrigo Barrios snapped Mike Anchondo's unbeaten record when he stopped Anchondo in the 4^th round in Miami.

The Argentinean, Barrios, dominated throughout, playing the role of aggressor against the tentative Anchondo.  The end came when Buddy McGirt, Anchondo's trainer, stepped into the ring while referee Tommy Kimmons was granting a break in the action to allow Anchondo time to recover from a foul.

Kimmons had deducted two points from Barrios and was ready to allow Anchondo the maximum five-minute period to recover from the foul. But McGirt felt his fighter had taken enough punishment and stepped up onto the canvas, forcing Kimmons to stop the fight at 2:00 of the 4^th round. Barrios had also floored Anchondo late in the 3^rd round.

Anchondo had originally been scheduled to make the first defense of his WBO title against Barrios, but lost the belt after failing to make the junior-lightweight limit of 130 pounds, weighing in over 4 pounds above the super featherweight limit. Had Anchondo defeated Barrios, the title would have been declared vacant. Despite Anchondo failing to make weight, the Argentinean had chosen to go ahead with the bout, and made no mistake about capitalizing on his opportunity.

“He didn't punch hard and I never felt his shots,” said Barrios afterwards.

''Hard work and sacrifice helped me get this victory,'' Barrios added. “Now I am a legitimate champion. I promised myself, I promised my camp and I promised my country.''

In undercard action, former heavyweight contender Michael Grant survived a first-round knockdown and went on to stop Wallace McDaniel in the 8^th round.