By Jake Donovan

Jorge Cota made a promise to himself after his loss to Marco Antonio Rubio to never let another fighter break his spirit. That very will to win allowed the 27-year old from boxing rich Los Mochis, Mexico to score a minor upset, rallying from behind to score a 10-round decision over Yudel Jhonson.

It wasn't just a meaningful win, but one in which he will reap immediate benefits.

Cota's clash with Jhonson at Full Sail Live on Full Sail University campus in Winter Park, Florida was part of a four-man super welterweight tournament. With the win, he will next fact John Jackson, who decisioned Dennis Laurente earlier on the same show. Both bouts airing live on the inaugural offering of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Bounce TV.

It was never easy for Cota, who fell behind early before catching Jhonson with a right hook that sent the Cuban through the ropes at the end of round three. The sequence was waived off as having took place after the bell, thus denying Cota a knockdwon call.

Instead, Cota had to endure a Jhonson rally and fight his way out of trouble.

"When I was in the dogfight, I was just thinking about winning so that I can continue to support my family," Cota (25-1, 22KOs) said of the biggest win of his career . "My team told me to step it up midway through the fight and I listened to them. I was a little uncomfortable with all the holding and twisting, but we knew his style and were ready for him."

Cota proved more than ready, fighting through an injured left hand to score two knockdowns late in the fight, pulling ahead and eventually away in claiming a well-earned unanimous decision.

 

"This opportunity on PBC on Bounce TV only motivates me more," insisted Cota, fighting on his first PBC card. "Half way through the fight I hurt my (left) hand, but I knew I had to get through it and my corner helped me."

Cota's showdown with Jackson will air on a future edition of PBC: The Next Round on Bounce TV.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox