Argentine cab driver David Peralta stuns Robert Guerrero with split-decision victory

Argentina's David Emanuel Peralta shocked former world champion Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero by winning a 12-round split decision Saturday night in the welterweight main event at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

The mostly unknown Peralta, (26-2-1, 14 KOs) defeated Guerrero, (33-5-1, 18 KOs) by scores of 116-112 and 115-113 for Peralta and 115-113 for Guerrero in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on Spike TV.

Guerrero opened strong in the first two rounds, scoring at will over the slower Peralta. Guerrero continued to have success in the third round as they traded back and forth. Peralta started to mount a consistent attack in the fifth round, upping the tempo and using movement to keep the oncoming Guerrero at bay.

The middle rounds featured excellent exchanges with Guerrero using a blistering uppercut to score points against Peralta. However, Peralta seemingly scoring a knockdown in the ninth round when he knocked Guerrero into the ropes, which kept him from hitting the canvas. But referee Ray Corona inexplicably did not count it as a knockdown.

Peralta continued to land and score in the final three rounds earning the split decision.

"I was a cab driver, driving cabs in Argentina. I was offered a chance to fight in the U.S. and came away victorious," Peralta said. "I came to fight and I knew I would win. He is a very good fighter but I hit him with the harder shots."

Peralta said he is ready to fight bigger names. "No way I'm going to retire now," he said. "I'll be ready again to fight soon, this was no joke and I can beat a lot of great fighters."

Guerrero came away disappointed in the loss.

"I thought I clearly won the fight. For the judge to say I lost eight rounds sounds crazy to me," he said. "Peralta was very awkward but I felt I won. I won the rounds when I boxed. This is very disappointing but I'll be back, that you can count on."

In a 10-round battle between two Mexican warriors, Freddy Hernandez, (34-8, 22 KOs), won a unanimous decision over Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo, (24-6, 20 KOs). Scores were 98-92 and 97-93 twice.

Also, 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha, (19-0, 9 KOs) won a 10-round majority decision over Steve Martinez, (16-3, 13 KOs) in the opening bout of the telecast.

(Photo of ninth-round missed knockdown call showing Guerrero being held up by the ropes after being hit by Peralta, by Andy Samuelson, PBC)