Photos: Rances Barthelemy Edges Omar Juarez With Majority Nod Win

Las Vegas, Cosmopolitan – Former two-division world champion Rances Barthelemy (30-2-1, 15 KOs) picked up an unpopular ten round majority decision over Omar Juarez (14-2, 5 KOs) at a catch-weight of 143-pounds. (photos by Esther Lin)

The scores were 95-95, 97-93 and 98-92. 

A feeling out round in the first, with neither doing too much. Barthelemy began to land the more effective punches in the second. Juarez began to push the action and walk Barthelemy down in the third, before the veteran began to throw in the closing moments. The fourth was close, with Juarez doing more work.

Juarez was pressing and punching in the fifth. Barthelemy was mostly closing up, but firing back when the openings were there. The workrate of Juarez was controlling the action. The pace slowed for most of the sixth, as Barthelemy was moving and pecking away. Juarez went after him in the final minute to pick things up with a high volume of punches.

In the seventh, Juarez continued to come forward and throw a lot of punches to outwork the more experienced man. Barthelemy was not throwing a lot and waiting for openings. The eight had Barthelemy hanging back just waiting to counter while Juarez wanted to press froward to throw a high volume of shots. 

During the ninth, Barthelemy was able to do counter-punching work and keeping Juarez at bay. The tenth and final round had Juarez pressing Barthelemy to the ropes and letting his hands go. Barthelemy was unable to connect with most of his fast counters.