SAN ANTONIO — Bryan Acosta came into San Antonio virtually anonymous but with an undefeated record. He’s leaving back to Hermosillo, Mexico, with a loss on his record but a wealth of experience gained.
The 26-year-old boxer lost a unanimous decision Saturday to Ramon Cardenas in a 10-round ProBox TV main event. Acosta fell behind early to the more experienced pro but rallied late to knock the local favorite down. Now, after fighting for the first time at the 122lb limit, Acosta says he is bringing that experience back up to featherweight to resume his campaign into contention.
“It gives me more confidence in my career because, in a weight class that is not my weight class, I’m bringing this fight with a top level [fighter]. So I think in my weight class, I’m gonna do a better job,” said Acosta, 20-1 (8 KOs), who is rated No. 14 by the IBF at 126lbs.
“I think this fight I started a little bit slow because… this is not my weight class,” he said. “As the rounds kept going, I started to get my rhythm in my boxing. In round seven, I dropped him. I think in round five is when I started to pick up, but it’s boxing. I was talking with my promoter Sampson [Lewkowicz], and we’re going back to 126.”
Acosta, who was fighting in his first official pro fight in a year – he also had an IBA pro fight last April – said making the junior featherweight limit wasn’t too difficult, thanks to his team, headed by trainer Alfredo Caballero. Still, the 5ft 7ins boxer feels he’s better suited to fight at 126.
Acosta says the plan now is to take a rest after the punishing fight, get back into the gym and wait for his next fight date.
“This loss gave me more than the 20 fights that I won. This loss gave me more experience and more confidence,” Acosta said. “Believe me, I’m gonna come back better in the next fight.
“I hope everyone here in San Antonio liked my fight and they don’t forget my name, because I’m going to keep pushing. I’m going to be world champion. Remember my name.”
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