FightPost Boxer of the Week: Pablo Cesar Cano

FightPost Boxer of the Week: Pablo Cesar Cano

By Michael Richards 

In a weekend of thrills, spills, deep cuts and delusion, boxing served up its usual mixture of talking points. Manny Pacquiao proved once again that age is just a number, as he comprehensively dismantled the brash Adrien Broner over 12 rounds. Despite the Americans protestations regarding the result, the victory was as comfortable as the scorecards suggested (117-11, 116-112, 116-112).

On the same card, Marcus Browne overcame the ever improving Badou Jack via unanimous decision. The fight will be remembered for an awful cut to the forehead of Jack, after an accidental coming together of both men. That aside, Browne boxed well, proving to be the quicker and the more accurate of the two.

A notable mention too, must go to Amanda Serrano, who blew away Eva Voraberger inside 35 seconds to become a seven weight world champion. An incredible achievement and one which builds nicely to a potential fight with Irish sensation, Katie Taylor.

The terrific victory from Serrano, was the precursor to a huge shock and my performance of the weekend. Jorge Linares was competing in his second fight at super lightweight, in what was seen as a straight forward bout against hard-hitting, but little known Mexican, Pablo Cesar Cano. Linares was expected to get past the challenger and move on to challenge for world honours at his new weight. The issue was, no one told Cano how things were meant to play out.

Linares was dropped a total of three times, in a one-sided, one round blow out. The first knockdown came after only 15 seconds, from a clubbing right hand from Cano. Linares seemed to recover well and was up fairly quickly. Cano trusted his blood thirsty instinct and set out to dismantle the Venezuelan, dropping him again with an overhand right a minute later. Amazingly, Linares was to be dropped for a third time, via a vicious left hook. Although he was able to carry on, Cano leapt on Linares, seeing the referee save him from any further punishment and said shock waves through the division.

Cano could well have put himself in line for a world title shot against Maurice Hooker, but even putting that aside, defeating one of the best pound 4 pound boxers of recent years will seem like a world title in itself. A great performance and once that will be remembered when awards are given out at the end of the boxing season.