By Miguel Rivera

Polideportivo Centenario, Los Mochis, Mexico - WBC lightweight champion Antonio DeMarco (27-2-1, 20 KOs) stopped Miguel “Mickey” Roman (37-9, 28 KOs) in the fifth round to retain his title for the first time. Next up for DeMarco is a possible rematch with Jorge Linares in the month of July. The WBC ordered the rematch at their December convention, but allowed the champion to make a voluntary defense. Linares (31-2, 20KOs), who was stopped by DeMarco in the eleventh round last October, will return on March 31 against Sergio Thompson in Cancun.