Argentina has a brand new world champion — and he wanted lower than two rounds to get the job performed. Mirco Cuello (16-0, 13 KOs), the 24-year-old phenom from Arroyo Seco, Santa Fe, captured the WBA Interim Featherweight Title with a blistering second-round TKO over Mexico’s Sergio Ríos Jiménez (19-1, 7 KOs) on Friday night time, August 8, on the Martyrs of Benina Stadium in Benghazi, Libya. The bout headlined the KO to Medicine occasion, marking a historic night time for Argentine and Latin American boxing on African soil.
From the opening bell, Cuello got here out like a person on a mission. A superbly timed straight proper hand dropped Ríos within the first spherical, instantly placing the Mexican challenger on discover. Within the second, Cuello doubled down — first with a crushing left cross to the jaw, then with a vicious physique shot that folded Ríos in half. Referee Roberto Ramírez of Puerto Rico stopped the competition after the second knockdown, sealing the TKO.
The victory makes Cuello the forty fourth Argentine world champion and solely the fourth within the nation’s historical past to assert a featherweight belt, becoming a member of the ranks of Pablo Chacón, Jonathan Barros, and Jesús Cuellar. Along with his good document intact, Cuello is now the main contender for WBA Common Champion Nick Ball, who is ready to defend in opposition to Sam Goodman on August 16 in Saudi Arabia.
Ríos — nicknamed “El Chakal” — arrived unbeaten and seeking to make a press release on the world stage. However his leaky guard and restricted lateral motion have been a present to Cuello, who showcased sharp tactical consciousness and fight-ending energy.
With this efficiency, Cuello confirms his rise as one among Argentina’s hottest boxing exports. His mix of energy, pace, and composure has him knocking on the door of the division’s elite, and his crowning night time in Libya could possibly be the beginning of one thing even larger.
