Football
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Larios fills in for champ Jorin, claims interim WBC belt

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Oscar Larios was happy to step in.

Filling in for injured champion Willie Jorin, Larios knocked out Israel Vazquez in the 12th round Friday night to win the interim WBC super bantamweight title.

Larios (44-3-1, 31 KOs) was a late replacement for Jorrin, who cited an undisclosed injury in ducking Vazquez for the third time. Two of Larios' losses have been to Vazquez and Jorrin, but he avenged one in this bout and will have a chance to avenge the other.

Larios was the busier and more aggressive fighter throughout,
peppering Vazquez with straight right hands and occasional
combinations. But he did not hurt his shorter opponent until early in the final round, when he scored with a right hand behind the ear.

Vazquez (32-3) initially fought back but was dropped by a right one minute into the round. He was up at seven, but went down again for good a minute later when Larios scored with a thunderous right-right combo.

Larios had been knocked out in the first round by Vazquez in a
1997 fight. As interim champion, he awaits Jorrin, who beat him
in a controversial unanimous decision in January 2001.

At 5-foot-7, Larios had two inches and considerable reach on Vazquez but chose to fight inside more than expected. Nevertheless, he controlled the tempo from the outset and fought through a small cut over his right eye, which he suffered in the second round.

At the time of the knockout, Larios had a huge lead on all the judges' scorecards.

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