Villa pitches shutout over Cervana

Undefeated southpaw Ruben Villa (15-0, 5 KOs) stayed that way by winning all eight rounds over Columbia native Ruben Cervera.

All three judges scored the fight 80-72 for Villa.

Villa, fighting out of Salinas, CA, used his quicker feet and hands to stay ahead of the heavy-handed Cervera-who’s undefeated record was a bit of a mirage.

The 21-year-old Villa strafed Cervera, either 21 or 25, with numerous left hands and jabs in rounds one and two. Cervera connected with a right, but Villa absorbed the blow and fought back.

Villa went to the body and head, connecting with crisp combinations in the next few rounds. Limited as he is, Cervana, like many Columbian fighters, can punch. Villa had to be careful. He stayed on the outside, beating Cervana to the punch while mostly avoiding his right. Villa flashed fast hands in round six, landing half a dozen solid lefts to the chin.

Cervera wobbled slightly, but still managed to fire a long shot from the back row. Cervera kept trying but Villa used angles and accurate blows to leave Cervera frustrated and on the losing end of a fight for the first time as a professional.

“It felt good fighting on the big stage and I got the victory against a very tough undefeated fighter," said Villa after the fight. "I felt I controlled the entire fight with my superior boxing skills.”