{"id":64720,"date":"2016-11-13T21:57:38","date_gmt":"2016-11-14T02:57:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=64720"},"modified":"2016-11-13T21:58:10","modified_gmt":"2016-11-14T02:58:10","slug":"jason-sosa-retains-his-wba-super-featherweight-title-against-steven-smith","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=64720","title":{"rendered":"Jason Sosa Retains His WBA Super Featherweight Title Against Steven Smith"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"sosa\"<\/a>By Jeffrey \u201cItalian Medallion\u201d Cellini<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the Salle des Etoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco on Saturday night, WBA Super Featherweight champion Jason \u201cEl Canito\u201d Sosa, 20-1-4, 15 KO\u2019s successfully defended his title by defeating Steven \u201cSwifty\u201d Smith, 24-3, 14 KO\u2019s by unanimous decision. The official scores were 117-110, 116-111 and 116-112.<\/p>\n

The 25-year old Sosa, from Camden, N.J, attacked from the opening bell, disregarding Smith\u2019s punching power. \u201cEl Canito\u201d used great footwork and and an aggressive attack to build an early lead on the judge\u2019s scorecards. The 31-year old Smith, from Liverpool, England, who suffered a bad near his right eye in the third round, absorbed a lot of punishment in the center of the ring and on the ropes.<\/p>\n

Momentum started to change in the fourth round when the Englishman abandoned his plan to outbox the champion, and tried to slug it out with his foe. Despite some success, Sosa continued to walk through the challenger\u2019s punches.<\/p>\n

Smith, the former British and Commonwealth champion, started rallying in the later rounds as Sosa\u2019s aggression began to slow down. The champion\u2019s early lead was enough, despite the challenger\u2019s late surge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI paid the price for a bad start,\u201d said Smith when interviewed by Sky Sports in the U.K. \u201cI\u2019ve got no excuses and the better man won. I still feel that I have a lot left to give and I think you\u2019ve still to see the best of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Sosa won the WBA World Super Featherweight title when he defeated Javier Fortuna by 11th round technical knockout back on June 24th of this year. Trailing on all three judge\u2019s scorecards, Sosa was able to land two big left hooks which sent Fortuna down to the canvas on all fours in a corner for a count of eight. Fortuna arose on unsteady legs, causing referee to halt the fight.<\/p>\n