By Carlos Boogs
Before a crowd of 7,378 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, WBC super featherweight world champion Francisco "El Bandido" Vargas (23-0-2, 17 KOs) and former three-time world champion Orlando "Siri" Salido (42-13-4, 30 KOs, 1 NC) went to war for twelve rounds. The fight ended in a majority draw with scores of 114-114, 114-114 and 115-113 in favor of Vargas.
Salido and his manager, Sean Gibbons, were upset with the verdict of the judges. This is the second consecutive draw for Salido, who last September appeared to unseat WBO super featherweight champion Roman 'Rocky' Martinez, and that fight also ended in a twelve round draw at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Salido is now going to take a few weeks off and then plans to get right back in the mix for the big fights at super featherweight and beyond.
After the fight was over, Gibbons and Salido promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer Promotions were confident their man got the victory after closing strong in the championship rounds. They were stunned when the scorecards were read.
"I don't know what this guy has to do [to win]. At his age, leaving it all on the line in the ring, leaving it in the hands of judges again. The Rocky Martinez [fight] was almost embarrassing. It was a 9-3 fight and he got a draw. In this fight, at times Orlando dominated, Vargas had his moments. It was about even going into the tenth, [Salido] swept the last two [rounds] - but unfortunately not for two guys who were sitting at ringside with the judges scorecards," Gibbons said.
"Its disheartening that a guy does what he does [and he doesn't get a win]. I just feel bad. I feel horrible. I feel like I didn't do my job. I don't know what I have to do different with judges. Is heartbreaking to see a great warrior like this put it all on the line out there again and not get the decision."
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