Boxing Prospect Barrera Overcomes Tough Test in Close Decision Victory
On Friday at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California, up-and-coming boxer Daniel “Chucky” Barrera faced the stiffest challenge of his young career, earning a close unanimous decision win over Christian Robles in an eight-round bout.
The 22-year-old Barrera (7-0-1, 4 KOs) emerged victorious, with scorecards of 77-75 (twice) and 79-73, but acknowledged the demanding nature of the match. Robles (8-3, 3 KOs), 27, demonstrated his determination to win from the outset of the fiercely contested eight-round battle.
“I knew this guy Christian was going to be tough,” said Barrera, who had sparred with Robles earlier in the year. “Tougher than I expected.”
Barrera attributed his sluggish start to the unfamiliarity of an eight-round fight and a cut he sustained in the fifth round, which bled throughout the contest. Robles’ rugged style posed significant challenges for Barrera, a counterpuncher who prefers maintaining distance and a reserved counterpunching approach.
“I got head-butted most of the time,” Barrera said with a chuckle. “But it is boxing. It happens. He was very rugged, very awkward as well. When you think he is going to do this, he does something else. So it was hard to pick up on his timing.”
Barrera hinted at a potential return in August, with BoxRec listing a 360 Promotions card for Aug. 31 at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, California. That event could feature Barrera’s next fight, given that he is cleared after being cut in Friday’s bout. He has already fought three times this year, including twice at Chumash.
Reflecting on his performance, Barrera stated his intention to remain at the eight-round duration for the foreseeable future. “I already felt the mistakes in there,” Barrera said. “I talked with my team in the back room [after the fight] and we know what we have to work on.”
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