Dominican Alberto Puello and Uzbekistan’s Batyr Akhmedov battled for 12 rounds and at the end, Puello kept the vacant World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight belt. 

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida, witnessed a great night for Dominican boxing as Puello and Hector Garcia became world champions on Saturday.

The “Wasp” dominated Akhmedov 117-111, 117-111 and 113-115 in a split decision by the judges. The height and reach of the Quechuan were key to defeat an opponent as insistent and aggressive as the Uzbek.

The good use of the jab and his straight left helped him to score points and win rounds although he did not live an easy night due to the siege of his rival, who was always after him and managed to complicate him on many occasions.

Puello is the new 140 lbs. champion and won his 21st fight, while he has no defeats and has knocked out 10 opponents. Akhmedov has 9 wins, 2 setbacks and 8 knockouts.