Arce Wins Decision Over Ler In Super Featherweight Fight

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA (TICKER) -- Jorge Arce now is looking for Cristian Mijares.

Arce recorded a unanimous decision over Julio Ler in a 12-round super featherweight fight Saturday at the Honda Center.

A native of Mexico known as "The Mexican Cowboy," Arce controlled the fight throughout but was frustrated that Ler would not exchange punches with him. Between rounds, Arce was repeatedly heard saying, "He doesn't want to fight."

The judges scored the fight 117-109, 117-110, 117-110.

Fighting for the first time outside his native Argentina, Ler opted to jab and move instead of trading punches with Arce. He finally opened up in the 11th round, and Arce staggered him with a left hook to the chin. Ler received a timeout for a low blow, helping him to survive the round.

Arce landed 214 of 886 punches while Ler connected on just 85 of 353 punches.

The top-ranked super flyweight contender, Arce won his 20th straight fight dating to 1999 and is looking for a matchup with Mijares, the WBC champion.

On the undercard, undefeated Kelly Pavlik recorded an eighth-round knockout of Jose Luis Zertuche in a scheduled 10-round WBC middleweight bout.

The 24-year-old Pavlik (30-0, 27 KOs), who hails from Youngstown, Ohio and is hoping for a title shot against Jermain Taylor, knocked down the Mexican with six seconds left in the sixth round with a solid left hook.

Two rounds later, Pavlik threw a right uppercut that staggered Zertuche, who was out on his feet until he was floored by another right with 1:20 left in the round. The 33-year-old Zertuche (19-4-2) had never been knocked down in his career.

Ranked second by the WBC for more than a year, Pavlik was in control throughout but suffered a cut under his right eye when Zertuche hit him with a combination in the third round.