WBA MEANS VENEZUELAN PIRATES

Those no goods down there in Caracas, Venezuela are at it again! Within the blink of an eye, three WBA titles had new claimants. And two of the newly crowned beltbearers are Venezuelan. Coincidence? Of course not!

COLOMBIAN SHINES

The Sunday afternoon card was highlighted by the talented Colombian Mauricio Pastrana. A former two time IBF 108 lb. titlist, Pastrana pummeled defending WBA fly guy Jose Bonilla in the later stages of the 12 rounder to capture a unanimous decision.

Pastrana, now 20-0, (16 KO's), was twice relieved of the IBF diadem due to his problems making the 108 lb. limit. This match was at flyweight or 112 lbs.

CERMENO GRABS TITLE VACANT LESS THAN A WEEK

Antonio Cermeno, who somehow escaped Criminal charges after shooting a woman he was arguing with in the leg with an automatic handgun, was given the WBA 126 lb. trinket after stopping Nicaraguan Genaro Rios.

This was the title Freddie Norwood lost on the scales a fortnight ago in Tokyo. Didn't I tell you that the Pirates of Caracas would waste no time in filling the void with one of their own. The Venezuelan had held the WBA 122 lb. honors  before relinquishing the diadem due to weight woes. Pistol happy Cermeno is now 30-2, with 18 stops.

ANOTHER WBA FIGHT, ANOTHER COUNTRYMAN WINS

The card held outdoors in the United Nations Park Stadium had the crowd of better than 5,000 feeling good about being Venezuelan as Carlos Barretto, moved to 13-0, (9 KO's) also won a WBA title when he outpointed Hector Acero Sanchez of the Dominican Republic for the 122 lb. honors recently stripped from Enrique Sanchez for "inactivity."

Pedro Fernandez

The award winning writer is a syndicated talk show host and has his own site at www.fighters.com.  He can be reached at flash@inow.com