Ring of Gold results: Miguel Vazquez retains IBF lightweight title in Macao

Miguel Vazquez was his usual self this morning in Macao, beating previously-undefeated Russian challenger Denis Shafikov via unanimous decision, retaining his IBF lightweight title and wrecking the card's streak of entertaining fights.

Vazquez (34-3, 13 KO) won on scores of 119-110, 116-112, and 115-113. The last card was probably too close, and the second card arguably was, too. Shafikov (33-1-1, 18 KO) didn't really challenge Vazquez much, and right now it's hard to imagine any of the world's lightweights giving the Mexican technician much of an issue. He's simply a better pure boxer than anyone in the weight class, and there are no real standout pressure guys or power punchers. He's not dominant so much as he just doesn't really allow opponents much opportunity to do anything. Which, of course, is dominant. It just doesn't seem like it is.

Vazquez has only ever lost to Tim Bradley and Canelo Alvarez, twice. Bigger men in bigger weight classes, before he became as good as he is. Other than that, he's dealt with everyone that has come his way.

Will he ever be a star on U.S. TV? No. He just isn't interesting enough and there's nobody for him to fight to make himself a star, either. But with Top Rank expanding into Macao the way they have, he could find himself a regular on these shows, sucking the life out of excited crowds in China instead of doing so to American audiences.