Giovani Segura Unified the Light Flyweight Titles
Giovani Segura unified the WBA and WBO light flyweight championships by knocking out Iván Calderón in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, on August 28, 2010. The eighth-round victory ended Calderón’s unbeaten record.
The Canchila breakthrough
Segura had captured the interim WBA light flyweight championship against César Canchila in Mexicali in March 2009. He stopped the Colombian at the end of the fourth round, reversing an earlier defeat.
He subsequently held the full WBA championship before traveling to Puerto Rico to face WBO champion Calderón. Segura’s pressure wore down the Puerto Rican boxer, and a body shot produced the decisive knockdown.
The rematch and move to flyweight
Segura defeated Calderón again in Mexico on April 2, 2011, this time by third-round knockout. He then moved up to pursue flyweight honors.
Brian Viloria retained the WBO flyweight championship against Segura at the Yñares Sports Arena in Pasig City in December 2011. Viloria won by eighth-round technical knockout, ending Segura’s attempt to add a championship at 112 pounds.
The unification took place at the Coliseo Mario “Quijote” Morales. Calderón initially found success with his movement and boxing, but Segura’s accumulating pressure changed the contest. The Puerto Rican was cut as the fight approached its conclusion and could not beat the count after the decisive body hook. Segura left with twenty-five wins, one defeat and one draw.
Sources
- World Boxing Association: Segura’s interim title victory over Canchila
- World Boxing Association: Segura–Calderón unification report
- World Boxing Association: confirmation of the August 28 unification date
- World Boxing Organization: Segura’s two Calderón knockout victories
- World Boxing Organization: official Viloria–Segura result
