JUAN URANGO W12 HERMAN NGOUDJO

The expected evenly matched fight turned out to be a rout as Juan Urango pounded out a one-sided, unanimous decision over Herman Ngoudjo to capture the vacant IBF junior welterweight title in Montreal on Friday night.

It was a little surprising that Las Vegas judge Robert Hoyle had the fight a shutout, but there was no doubt that Urango dominated the 12 rounds. The best I could give Ngoudjo was three rounds and even then I thought I was being generous in one of the rounds. Ngoudjo showed amazing fitness in getting through the 12 rounds after being dropped twice in the third, but he was simply overwhelmed by the much stronger Colombian fighter.

The first two rounds seemed competitive and closely contested, with Ngoudjo boxing and moving while Urango pressed forwards and landed the heavier shots. Everything changed in the third round, though, when Urango dropped Ngoudjo with a left uppercut from his southpaw stance. The punch caught Ngoudjo pulling back and dropped the Montreal-based fighter heavily. Although Ngoudjo was clear-eyed after taking the eight count his legs wobbled disobediently and when he went down for another eight count late in the round the fight was as good as over.

Strangely, Ngoudjo never again looked in danger of being stopped after surviving the third round, but he could never get into the fight. He just couldn’t hurt Urango, who walked through Ngoudjo’s punches and banged him around. Urango was winning round after round by battering Ngoudjo’s body, including some shots that seemed to land around the hip area. Ngoudjo’s jabs and right hands were of the pitty-pat type. He was just touching the target with his punches whereas Urango was landing thudding blows. Even when Ngoudjo was blocking punches he was being knocked off balance. At times Urango was sweeping Ngoudjo before him, bullying him all around the ring.

This was the best I have ever seen Urango. He fought at a fast pace, and although he neglects to jab his way in he showed better hand speed and combinations than I can remember seeing from him. His body punching was impressive, as was his punch-volume. Working with Puerto Rican trainer Evangelista Cotto seems to have taken Urango to a new level. It was no surprise that Urango won — I made him the favourite although I confess that I leaned towards Ngoudjo — but I never expected him to outclass the Montreal boxer, which is what he did.