Barrera, Juarez fight to a draw…Wait, say what?!

In an unfortunate turn of events for challenger Rocky Juarez, Miguel Antonio Barrera won by split decision over Juarez (25-2, 18 KOs) at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. The fight, first announced as a draw, brings Barrera's record to 62-4 (42 KOs) as he retains his WBC super featherweight title.

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It was a great night of boxing at STAPLES Center for everyone in attendance but Rocky Juarez.  Juarez took on future Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera in front of a pro-Barrera crowd and boxed one heck of a fight.  After the bell rang to end the 12th and final round, the crowd was on their feet, cheering both fighters for putting on a great show.  Juarez felt he won the fight but Michael Buffer read the results ultimately as a draw — judge Duane Ford scoring the fight 115-113 for Juarez, judge Anek Hongtogkham giving it to Barrera at 115-113 and judge Ken Morita scoring it an even 114-114.

Normally when a fight is a draw, neither the boxers or the crowd is happy but in a fight so closely contested, it only seemed fitting.  Even Juarez was okay with the initial decision.  Unfortunately, it wasn't the final decision.

Several minutes after the fight, when both boxers were in their dressing rooms and a majority of the crowd gone, it was learned that one judge's scorecard had been added wrong, favoring Barrera and giving the defending WBC super featherweight champion the win.

It was certainly a tough fight to score, if not add.  While Barrera controlled the first half of the bout, he did lose a few early rounds and was victim to several telling punches that left him with a constantly bloody nose and a swollen left eye.  Juarez turned the fight in his favor in the later rounds, but the last two rounds were very even.  Blog and Weave scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Barrera.

There were no knockdowns, but Juarez rocked Barrera a few times and earned the respect of not only the Mexican legend, but everyone in attendance.

Barrera's strategy was to box Juarez, but at times he did move inside and trade power punches.  Barrera used his jab to great advantage, keeping Juarez outside and frustrated, although Juarez did not show it.  Juarez didn't throw hardly the same amount of punches, but when he did connect, they seemed to do much more damage.

As if the main event wasn't entertaining enough, fans were briefly allowed to enjoy WBO junior lightweight champion Jorge Barrios.  Barrios only needed 49 seconds to knock out previously-undefeated Janos Nagy in the title fight. Barrios landed a solid left hook to Nagy's right side, stunning Nagy and sending him to his knees for the ten-count.  Along with the crowd, Barrios seemed surprised by the one-punch KO, saying "I hit him once and I didn't think it did anything."  Nagy felt different (literally), claiming the shot knocked the wind out of him.  "I wanted to go on, but I wasn't able to," a disappointed Nagy said.  Barrios retained his title and improved to 46-2-1 (33 KOs) while the Hungarian Nagy fell to 23-1 (14 KOs.)

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Round-by-Round Review

ROUND ONE

Barrera circles around Juarez, using his jab and striking with great accuracy.  A nice right hand by Juarez is the first big punch of the fight.  Barrera closes out the round with a few combinations. SCORE: 10-9, Barrera

ROUND TWO

Both fighters exchange jabs, then work inside going to each other's body.  Juarez backs Barrera into the ropes and throws a few, but Barrera spins Juarez around against the ropes and pops off a right hand.  Barrera goes back to using the jab.  Juarez takes the round by a great left hook that connects with Barrera's nose, which starts to bleed immediately. SCORE: 10-9, Juarez (19-19, even)

ROUND THREE

Barrera and Juarez trade jabs as both fighters use up the entire ring.  Barrera attacks the body, landing a big left on Juarez's waistband.  Later in the round, Barrera is warned for hitting the back of Juarez's head.  A left hook by Juarez sends Barrera stumbling with five seconds left. SCORE: 10-9, Juarez (29-28, Juarez)

ROUND FOUR

Barrera begins the round attacking Juarez's body, then goes back to fighting outside and using his jab.  After a punch hits Juarez's hip, Barrera is warned for a low blow.  The rest of the round lacks a huge punch, but Barrera seems to have a game plan and sticking with it, while Juarez looks unsure how to beat Barrera. SCORE: 10-9, Barrera (38-38, even)

ROUND FIVE

Jab combinations from Barrera slows Juarez down.  Juarez lunges and lands a left hook, followed by another left hook on the other side of the ring.  Barrera rips off two body shots then closes out the round landing combinations inside. SCORE: 10-9, Barrera (48-47, Barrera)

ROUND SIX

Juarez strikes first with a left jab, followed by an inside attack by Barrera.  Juarez takes a big swing and misses a ducking Barrera, who then lands an uppercut to Juarez's chin.  Juarez throws an uppercut of his own, the first one he's connect on all night.  Barrera continues to score with combinations.  Barrera gets Juarez against the ropes and throws a left hook. SCORE: 10-9, Barrera (58-56, Barrera)

ROUND SEVEN

Juarez walks into two jabs and decides to take the fight inside.  Barrera obliges and the two boxers lean on each other trying to land punches.  Juarez fires three hooks to Barrera's body.  The entire round is up to this point has been spent on the inside.  Barrera lands a nice left hook to the body and a few seconds later, his mouthpiece comes out.  After a quick timeout, Barrera goes back to staying outside and jabbing.  SCORE: 10-9, Barrera (68-65, Barrera)

ROUND EIGHT

The first minute is uneventful then a hard right hand by Juarez lands.  Again, Barrera's mouthpiece comes out and it is replaced with a different one.  It's unsure whether or not Barrera is doing this on purpose, but based on the blood constantly flowing from his nose, he may very well have a broken nose and is breathing heavily from his mouth, causing the protector to slip out. SCORE: 10-9, Juarez (77-75, Barrera)

ROUND NINE

Juarez is now the more active fighter and is constantly applying pressure.  Juarez scores with a right hand.  Both fighters trade left hooks at the bell. SCORE: 10-9, Juarez (86-85, Barrera)

ROUND TEN

A left hook to Barrera's chin starts the round.  Juarez and Barrera go toe to toe, Juarez landing a right hand followed by an uppercut while Barrera attacks Juarez's body.  Barrera throws a nice combination.  A right hand by Juarez draws more blood from Barrera's nose.  As the bell rings, both fighters land glancing blows. SCORE: 10-9, Juarez (95-95, even)

ROUND ELEVEN

The pace really picks up as both fighters sense the last two rounds are very valuable.  Juarez starts it off with a big left hook.  Later, combination lands flush against Barrera's head.  More body work for Barrera, but Juarez backs off and feeds Barrera a right followed by a left hand.  Another left hand by Juarez and more body shots by Barrera.  With seconds remaining, Juarez lands a right hook but Barrera trumps him with several combinations in attempt to steal the round. SCORE: 10-9, Barrera (105-104, Barrera)

ROUND TWELVE

With Juarez looking to attack Barrera on the ropes, the referee calls timeout to have the center of the ring toweled off.  When the round resumes, Juarez fires two solid right hands, the second of which Barrera counters with a big left.  Juarez starts throwing wild punches and coming up empty.  As the bell sounds to end the fight, both fighters are ripping off shots to take the round. SCORE: 10-9, Barrera (115-113, Barrera)

The fight is initially declared a draw (115-113, 113-115, 114-114.)  Several minutes after the fighters leave the ring, it is announced that the scores were incorrectly tallied. 

Barrera by split decision.