The Costa Rican Hanna Gabriel defeated Dominican Oxandia Castillo by unanimous decision and retained the super welterweight titles of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and the World Boxing Association (WBA).
‘The Amazon’ Gabriel took the victory after recovering from a difficult and unpromising start, as only in the second episode he fell to the canvas as a result of a powerful left to the face, Castillo’s favorite blow.
In the first four rounds of the ten that were played, ‘La loba’ Castillo was superior to a nervous rival who received the support of about a thousand people who filled the National Gymnasium of San José.
From the fifth episode on, Gabriel improved his defense and attacked with combinations of right and left, both to the torso and to the face of the Dominican boxer, so the fight turned into an exchange of blows from power to power.
Both searched incessantly for the KO but also demonstrated their ability to absorb blows.
The ninth round was key in the fight and was the one that tipped the balance on the judges’ scorecards, as the Costa Rican handed out a series of combinations that made Castillo stagger.
The Dominican withstood the gale and managed to reach the last round in which both, already very tired, did not risk too much to end the fight fused in a hug and congratulating each other on the battle.
With this win, Hanna Gabriel increases her record to 17 fights won, one draw and one loss. That only defeat was given to him four years ago by his rival today, so the victory tasted like revenge for Tica.
For his part, Castillo lowered his record to 17 wins, three losses and three draws. EFE