Arce stops Hussein in classic battle

by Paul Upham: In one of the great Las Vegas wars in the lighter weight classes, former WBC junior flyweight world champion Jorge Arce 39-3-1 (29) won by 10th round TKO over Hussein Hussein 27-2 (21) in an official WBC flyweight eliminator on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on the Erik Morales-Manny Pacquiao card.

In the 1st round Hussein started fast, but then got caught with a powerful Arce left hook. Both men hitting to the body at the end of the 1st round as Hussein did well to recover. In the 2nd round Hussein got back into the fight with a lot of heavy punches landing. Arce' eyes were looking a little swollen as Hussein mixed up his shots with strong right hands and left hooks

After 25 year-old Arce started well in the 4th round, Hussein got back into the fight on the ropes with some good body work and there was great toe to toe action at the end of the round, both fighters trying to impose their will on the other. Hussein was back on the ropes in the 5th trying to outbox the Mexican, as blood was flowing from Arce's nose. The doctor was called in to look at Arce's cut high on his nose and when the action continued, both men were throwing punches until after the bell. The 6th round had a slower start, but turned into a toe to toe slugfest as the crowd roared in appreciation, with a lot of blood still coming from Arce's nose. Hussein then boxed nicely in the 7th, cleverly targeting the nose and Arce looked fatigued for the first time in the fight

After a slow start to the 8th round, Hussein with three-time world champion Jeff Fenech in his corner was in control of the round and then looked in distress all of a sudden. Referee Vic Drakulich deducted Hussein one point for holding on the back of the head shortly after and as the Australian went back to his corner at the end of the round, he told his trainers that his jaw may be broken.

Hussein was hurt with a right hand in round 9 and tried to fight his way back into the contest and landed a left hand, right hook combination of his own at the end of the round, but Arce was outworking him and on the verge of stopping him. Hussein was hurt with a left hook early in round ten and shortly after was down in the corner from a right hand, left hook combination. His brother and co-trainer Billy Hussein jumped in to stop the fight and referee Drakulich waved off the contest at the 2:07 minute mark. Arce's face a bloody messy as he was hoisted on the shoulders of his cornermen in the centre of the ring.

Arce is now guaranteed a shot at reigning WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam. While Hussein was beaten for only the second time in his career, he proved that he is a genuine contender in the 112lbs weight class.

After the fight, 29 year-old Hussein was interviewed at ringside, his right eye cut and his jaw swollen badly on the right hand side. "I just couldn't get my timing right," said Hussein. "I must have got hit on the jaw. It started playing with my senses and every time I got hit, I felt unbalanced and it took me a while to recover. He is a strong fighter and a strong puncher, but I should have fought a different fight."


Paul Upham
Contributing Editor