By Rick Reeno

MGM Grand, Las Vegas - In a battle of former champions, Rances "Kid Blast" Barthelemy (23-0, 13KOs) proved to be too fast, too accurate and too elusive for Antonio DeMarco (31-5-1, 23KOs). Barthelemy dropped DeMarco in the fourth and boxed his way to a wide unanimous decision in their ten round junior welterweight contest. All three judges saw it 99-89.

Both fighters had their moments in the first round. Barthelemy was very selective with his shots, using a long jab to sneak in quick punches to the head and body as DeMarco was side open often.

During the fourth, Barthelemy clocked DeMarco with a hard hook that sent him down to his knees. DeMarco beat the count, but took punishment as Barthelemy jumped in looking for a finish. DeMarco was able to recover quickly and tried to counter back with something big before the round closed out.

Barthelemy as having a field day in the sixth round, with accurate pot shots that were finding the target each and every time. DeMarco was missing most of his attempted counters.

Barthelemy's jab was proving to be too much for DeMarco to overcome. He was using it as more of a range finder and to keep DeMarco at a safe distance at all times.

In the ninth round, Barthelemy lost a point for straying low. Referee Kenny Bayless had given him two prior warnings in pervious rounds. Barthelemy was fired up afterwards, landing some very accurate shots to the head of DeMarco.

Barthelemy spent certain points of the tenth coasting, and yet still doing enough to outland DeMarco until the bell.