WBA #2 Cordoba beats Arboleda
By Robert Coster / taken from www.fightnews.com

July 5, 2008 - WBA #2 junior featherweight Ricardo "Maestrito" Cordoba paved the way for a September WBA title eliminator with the only man who has ever beaten him, Poonsawat Kratimdaeng, the top ranked WBA contender, by winning a decisive victory over countryman Jose Arboleda on Wednesday night at the Atlapa Convention Center in Panama City.

The fight lived up to the pre-fight hype through 10 exciting, hard-fought rounds. In an unforeseen tactical move, Arboleda elected to counterpunch and let Cordoba be the aggressor. Ricardo took some rounds to adjust to what was for him an unfamiliar role. However, the talented "Maestrito" took control of the action in the second half of the fight, beating Arboleda to the punch and pushing back his bigger and heavier foe. The final round was a dandy as both boxers waged a fierce battle that had the full-house audience on its feet.

The bout, held Wednesday night at the Atlapa Convention Center in Panama City, lived up to the pre-fight hype through 10 exciting, hard-fought rounds. In an unforeseen tactical move, Arboleda elected to counterpunch and let Cordoba be the agressor. Ricardo took some rounds to adjust to what was for him an unfamiliar role.

However, the talented "Maestrito" took control of the action in the second half of the fight, beating Arboleda to the punch and pushing back his bigger and heavier foe. The final 10th round was a dandy as both boxers waged a fierce battle that had the full-house audience on its feet. Two judges had Cordoba winning 97-93 while the third judge voted it a bizarre 95-95 draw.

Said Cordoba after the fight: "Arboleda was one tough customer, as I expected. He is a world-class boxer but I think I proved a point. I am not just a stylist and I can take it to my opponent if I have to. I am now looking forward to a rematch with Poonsawat but in Panama. I was victimized by the judges in Thailand and there`s no way I am going back there!"