23 years ago
Leonard Dorin vs Raul Horacio Balbi
Date: 5th January 2002
Venue: Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas, USATitle: WBA World Lightweight Title
Promoter: DiBella Entertainment
Referee: Rafael Ramos
Tv: HBO Boxing After Dark
Leonard Dorin
(
19
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 134 lbs
Raul Horacio Balbi
(
48
-
4
-
1
)
Weight: 134½ lbs
On January 5, 2002, at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, Leonard Dorin faced Raúl Horacio Balbi for the WBA World Lightweight Title. Dorin, hailing from Romania, entered the ring with an undefeated record of 19-0-0 and weighed in at 134 pounds. His opponent, the Argentine champion Balbi, held a record of 48-4-1 and weighed 134½ pounds.
The bout was a closely contested battle, with both fighters exchanging significant blows throughout the match. In the 10th round, Dorin was penalized one point for low blows, a decision that added to the tension of the fight. Despite this setback, Dorin's resilience and tactical prowess allowed him to edge out Balbi. The judges' scores reflected the competitiveness of the bout: Duane Ford scored it 114-113, Ray Hawkins had it 112-115, and Gale Van Hoy saw it 115-112, resulting in a split decision victory for Dorin.
This victory marked Dorin's ascension as the WBA World Lightweight Champion. Four months later, the two fighters would meet again in Bucharest, Romania, where Dorin secured a unanimous decision win, further solidifying his status in the lightweight division.