Ivan Garcia outboxed and defeated former world title challenger Saul Juarez late Friday night at the Auditorio Blackberry in Mexico City. 

Scores were 96-94, 96-94, and 100-90 for Garcia, who improves to 9-1-1, 5 knockouts and won a regional junior flyweight title.

Garcia had to fend off Juarez, who was the aggressor from the opening bell. Dropping down from flyweight to 108 pounds, Garcia did well by utilizing ring generalship to counter Garcia’s offense. 

Both fighters had their moments during the middle rounds. Juarez was able to get on the inside to connect with uppercuts to the head of Garcia, who did well mixing his attack with combinations to the head and body of Juarez.

Sensing he was down in the fight, Juarez increased his aggression and punch output during the last three rounds. Garcia created distance, working in and out of Juarez’s range to connect with the more-effective punch to the final bell sounded. 

With the win, Garcia has now won his last four bouts since losing by knockout to Edwin Cano Hernandez in a clash of unbeaten flyweights. 

Juarez, who lost by unanimous decision to then-WBC junior flyweight titleholder Kenshiro Teraji (2018) and then-WBC strawweight titleholder Chayaphon Moonsri (2016), falls to 25-16-2, 13 KOs. He has now lost eight of his last nine bouts.

In the co-feature, strawweight Jesus Haro of Reno, Nevada improved to 8-1 by defeating Oscar Bermudez over 10 rounds. Scores were 98-92, 98-92, and 99-91 for Haro.

Bermudez, who resides in Mexico City, drops to 5-8. 2 KOs. 

Flyweight Brandon Jimenez defeated Mexico City’s Alejandro Lopez (0-3) by decision over six one-sided rounds. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Jimenez, who improves to 7-0, 2 KOs. 

In a clash of Mexico City female strawweights, Brenda Balderas (4-3-1, 1 KO) defeated Elizabeth Cruz Balderas by split decision. One judge scored the bout 76-75 for Cruz (7-2, 2 KOs), while the other two judges scored the bout 78-75 and 77-75 for Balderas, who is unbeaten in his last five bouts. 

Ricardo Maldonado’s Producciones Deportivas promoted the card, which aired on EstrellaTV in the United States. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing