Elwin “La Pulga” Soto Retains WBO Title in Ugly Fight at Fantasy Springs

INDIO, Calif.-It wasn’t pretty but Mexicali’s Elwin Soto hung onto the WBO light flyweight world title in an ugly affair that only a mother could love against Philippine southpaw Edward Heno on Thursday.

Soto (16-1, 11 KOs) squirmed out a win by decision over Heno (14-1-5, 5 KOs) who fought like he had a hangover with a bent over style that stalled the last half of the fight at Fantasy Springs Casino.

Early on both looked anxious to exchange with Heno scoring an early knockdown during a fierce exchange that caught Soto by surprise. The Philippine southpaw showed a strong chin and nifty combinations in the first half.

Then it got ugly.

Heno had a habit of lowering his head down and keeping it there while leaning into Soto. Despite a warning by referee Jerry Cantu the lefty continued to repeat the tactic for the entire fight. It slowed down the fight and no further warnings or penalties were assessed.

Soto kept firing and Heno kept lowering his head lower and lower and the world title challenge soon lost its luster. Most of the time the Filipino fighter would bore into Soto with his head down while not throwing many punches as if looking to force the referee to deduct a point from Soto for hitting him behind the head. Soto tried circling away from Heno but it didn’t help.

It was a wearying tactic and did not go well with the judges who scored it 114-113, 115-112 twice for Soto who retains the WBO light flyweight title he won last June in the same venue against Angel Acosta.

“I won the early rounds, and I won the later rounds. But there were some rounds in the middle where he beat me,” said Soto. “Either way, I won the fight, and I’m ready for anyone. I just want to keep fighting, no matter who it is.”

Angel Acosta

Former world champion Angel Acosta (21-2, 21 KOs) knocked out Filipino Raymond Tabugon (22-11-1, 11 KOs) with his potent left hook to win the vacant WBO International flyweight title.

“I felt very good against a very strong opponent,” said Acosta.

The flyweight title fight opened with Tabugon looking to counter Acosta’s left hook and he found some success. But soon Acosta was able to figure out the problem and began using feints and doubling up the left hooks to keep the Filipino fighter from timing the blows.

A quadruple left hook set up some body shots that seem to affect Tabugon. In the fifth round a wild overhand right by Tabugon was met with a left hook and down went the Filipino fighter who was able to beat the count. He attempted to hold his way out of the trouble but Acosta calmly opened up some space before attacking with a left hook to the head and follow up right that put him down again prompting referee Raul Caiz Jr. to stop the fight at 1:02 of the fifth round.

Acosta now has the WBO International title and has no preference as to who to face next.

“There are a lot of good fighters at this weight,” said Acosta who was accompanied by his girlfriend Arely Mucino the WBO female flyweight world champion.

Other Fights

East L.A.’s Jonathan Navarro (17-0, 9 KOs) continues to impress and this time was no different as he took apart Nicaragua’s Levis Morales (17-6-1, 8 KOs) by knockout in the second round of a super lightweight match.

Navarro trains with Robert Garcia and in the past year has entered a new plateau with significant wins over Damon Allen, Manuel Mendez and now Morales. Body shots seemed to paralyze the Nicaragua fighter early who complained of rabbit blows to stall the referee. But it was apparent that shots to the abdomen were hurting and in the second round Navarro targeted a left hook and floored Morales. He beat the count and was delivered to the floor again with a one-two combination to the head. Though he again beat the count, his corner tossed in a towel signaling an end to the fight at 1:49 of the second round.

Ireland’s Aaron McKenna (9-0, 5 KOs) was able to deal with Mexican fighter Sergio Gonzalez (6-7-1, 2 KOs) barging in with his head for all six rounds in their super welterweight fight. With some bludgeoning body shots McKenna kept the hard-charging Gonzalez from landing hard blows and was awarded a 60-54 victory on all three scorecards. The fight showed off McKenna’s ability to fend off butts and blows to the body and head.

Mexico’s Raul Curiel (8-0, 6 KOs) stopped Puerto Rico’s Jeremy Ramos (11-8, 4 KOs) with body shots after seven rounds in a super welterweight showdown. It was a hard fought fight though the Mexican fighter from Guadalajara was ahead on all the scorecards. Curiel trains with Freddie Roach at the Wild Card and claims working with the various international boxers in the Hollywood gym helps him prepare for all opposition.

Nick Sullivan (2-0) crashed the pro debut of Mexico City’s Gilberto Aguilar (0-1) by sending him to the canvas twice in their lightweight meeting. A three punch combination delivered Aguilar down the first time. A long right cross ended the fight by knockout at 1:50 of the first round. Sullivan fights out of Norfolk, Virginia.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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