LOS ANGELES, 10 February 2005 — Mexico’s Oscar Larios defends his World Boxing Council super-bantamweight title today in Lemoore, California, against former world champion Wayne McCullough of Northern Ireland.
Larios, 27, makes his ninth defense of the title he won in 2002 with a victory over Israel Vazquez. He boasts a record of 54-3-1, with 35 wins inside the distance. He is unbeaten in 15 straight fights, including title defenses last year against Shigeru Nakazato in Japan and Australian Nedal Hussein in Las Vegas.
McCullough, the Las Vegas-based Ulsterman, won the WBC bantamweight title in 1995, but has since lost super-bantamweight title bids against Daniel Zaragoza and Erik Morales of Mexico. But the tough 34-year-old, who brings a record of 27-4, with 18 knock-outs, to the bout, says he is primed to make the most of his latest opportunity.
“It’s the last chance for me, and I intend to get that second world title that I have always dreamed about,” McCullough said. “Age is just a number. I’m a fresh 34. I haven’t had that many fights, and I know that I can beat Larios.”
McCullough said the pressure will all be on the champion.
“We’ll see how he handles that pressure, and how he handles the pressure that I’m going to be putting on him in the ring,” McCullough said.
On the same card at the Palace Indian Gaming Center in Lemoore, Andre Ward, America’s only boxing gold medallist at the Athens Games last year, will make his second professional appearance, taking on Kenny Kost in a special attraction six-round bout.
