Jorge Arce appeared on Mexican television Saturday night, selling everything from multivitamins to foot deodorant. Fighting and dominating fellow junior featherweight Simphiwe Nongqayi (16-2-1) in a 4th round knockout almost seemed like an afterthought for the man from Los Mochis. Nothing stunk about Arce’s (57-6-2) performance in the rematch of his 2009 loss, and I want some of whatever he’s taking.
Nongqayi, sporting a chequerboard haircut and Piet Mondrian-influenced shorts, simply couldn’t work out the geometry of the only square that mattered. Knocked down by a Arce right/left combination in the 1st round and hurt in every round after that, the South African resorted to flagrantly head butting “El Travieso.” A cut over Arce’s right eye and a point deduction in the 4th were the results.
With blood running down his face, Arce saw red and put an end to matters with an unanswered series of blows with 59 seconds left in the round. Arce’s win adds to the momentum of the old-hardcore-Mexican-dude renaissance, which he started along with compatriot Erik Morales.
On the undercard, junior featherweight Victor Terrazas (31-2-1) had it all over Eduardo Becerril (13-10), scoring a TKO in the 4th. Becerril was never really in it, and had the terrified eyes and receding hairline of a career opponent. The Mexican commentators thought Terrazas to be future world champion material. I’m not convinced. He’s a bit slow to make it on the big stage.
