Garcia scrapes past Calixto for IBF super flyweight title

Willibaldo Garcia Perez is a world champion at 35 after narrowly beating Rene Calixto Bibiao

35-year-old super flyweight veteran Willibaldo Garcia Perez claimed his first world title last night by edging out Rene Calixto Bibiano for the vacant IBF belt in Zacatecas, Mexico.

Garcia (23-5-2, 13 KO), who was Fernando Martinez’s mandatory challenger before the latter elected to pursue a rematch with Kazuto Ioka instead, battled Calixto (23-1-1, 9 KO) to a draw last December in Japan. This time around, he rode a late surge to a split decision on scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 113-115.

It’s hard not to be happy for Garcia, who started his career 1-3 (1 NC). Four of his five defeats came via split or majority decision, including to Alexandro Santiago and Paul Butler. It’s rare to see a lower-weight fighter hit his career apex in his mid-30s.

As for what’s next, he’s not on the clock for a mandatory challenger until Andrew Moloney fights Argi Cortez in an ordered final eliminator. Could be worth revisiting the Martinez fight while Jesse Rodriguez and Phumelela Cafu battle it out for the other two titles.