For once, Miguel Torres needed all five rounds.
Fighting just 18 miles from his hometown, the revered World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion passed a stern test from Takeya Mizugaki in a unanimous decision victory at WEC 40 at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on Sunday. Scores were 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47.
The 28-year-old Torres has rattled off an astounding 17 consecutive wins, but he was taken the distance for the first time in nearly four years by the hard-nosed Japanese newcomer. Takeya's stock soared in defeat.
"He came out and banged. He stood there the whole time," Torres said. "No one has ever taken me that far in my career. I have a lot of respect for him."
read more