However,
as the many fans who had taken the trip form
Rayne would witness, Menard was more than ready
for the challenge.
He put
pressure on Laryea from the first bell, and even
though the African did well in spurts and won
two of the rounds on two judges cards, the
pressure became too much and Laryea was quickly
forced into survival-mode.
After
four rounds he had had enough, and retired on
his stool for the second straight time in world
championship fights, making Mason Menard the new
UBO World Lightweight Champion after an
impressive performance where he was denied the
pleasure of a conclusive ending.
Menard
went on to successfully defend the UBO title
with a unanimous decision over Lonnie Smith
(14-3-2) the following year, and later scored
big knockout-victories over Eudy Bernado (21-0)
and Bahodir Mamadjonov (19-2), both televised by
Showtime.
Since
then he lost big fights to stars Raymundo
Beltran, Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez, a shame
for no-one. Now 36-4 (25), he is still only
thirty-one years old, and has won his last two
outings as he is trying to put himself back in
line for big assignments.
Laryea,
now 25-11 (19), was back in the USA ten months
later, when he dropped a disputed split decision
to Rod Salka (14-1). He has since mostly boxed
on home soil, where he has registered eleven
victories and captured a few minor
championships.
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