GUYANA’S Clive Atwell (12-1-1) fell to Mexico and World Boxing Council (WBC) featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (56-8) by a technical decision when the two met on Saturday evening at the Convention Centre in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. 

Referee Laurence Cole stopped the fight with just three seconds remaining in the tenth of the 12-round encounter, after a clash of heads opened a gash above the left eye of Gonzalez midway through the fight, but the rigours of the bout worsened it and led to the stoppage.
Judges Rey Danseco of the Philippines and Americans Herb Santos and Michael Tate scored the fight 99-89, 96-92, 98-90 all in favour of the Mexican Gonzalez whose record has now improved to 56 wins from 64 fights.
Atwell who holds both the WBC CABOFE Light Welterweight and Featherweight belts was not only having his first shot at a World Title but was also fighting for the first time outside of Guyana since turning Pro in 2010.
It was the Guyanese’s first defeat, pushing his record to 12 wins, seven of which he won by knockout, and one draw.
Chasing history, Atwell entered the ring looking like he normally does for any of his fights – composed, confident and ready – while Gonzalez seemed a little on the edge.
Little or nothing was known about Atwell by his Mexican counterpart before the fight while the Guyanese knew that Gonzalez was a hardnosed veteran and it would take more than just tactics; it would take a knockout to rid him of his title – something only three fighters were able to do.
Slow but deadly was Gonzalez in the earlier rounds of the fight while Atwell showed little and at times no signs that he was actually fighting for a world title for the first time.
The 25-year-old Guyana featherweight champion was by far the more aggressive of the two fighters and often placed Gonzalez on the defence but experience was not on Atwell’s side.
Utilising a sharp jab and scoring straight right hands, Gonzalez kept the athletic, but overmatched Atwell at bay for most of the fight.
Atwell’s persistence even caused points to be deducted with referee Laurence Cole doing so in rounds seven and ten.
This was Gonzalez’s first trip in the ring in nine months after reclaiming the WBC featherweight title from Abner Mares with a first-round knock-out.
Forty-two world champions have been recognised by the WBC, of whom only five have regained the title – Jhonny Gonzalez, Vicente Saldiva (Mexico), Jose Legra (Cuba/Spain), Erik Morales (Mexico) and Inji Chi (Japan).