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Ecuadorean boxer Erick Bone triumphed over Las Vegas native Cameron Krael in a close call by U.S. judges during Friday's welterweight bout.
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After ten rounds, Bone (20-5, 8 KOs) was declared victorious over his competitor, taking the fight with a final score of 95-94, 96-94 Bone, 95-94 Kreal.
"In the ring it was much more difficult than I had imagined and Krael made me box much more. This fight has taught me a lot," Bone told the Premier Boxing Champions. "This was a test that I learned a lot from, I'm happy judges saw this fight in my favor."
Born in Portoviejo, Manabi, the coastal fighter pursued his dreams of boxing in the United States, where he hoped to realize his goal of becoming Ecuador's first world champion.
"I left Ecuador because the truth is that here I did a lot of fights and they did not pay me. As a boxer I dream of getting as high as possible: becoming a champion I like boxing, but the economic issue is quite important because now I have my family," said Bone.
With more than 100 amateur fights to his name, some against Olympic and world champions, Bone decided he needed to relocate.
"I started thinking that I could not waste my talent and then I accepted one of the proposals and I left in 2014.
"You know there are boxers that I used to see only on TV and now I train with them. I've been their sparring partner and there is one thing I realize: there is nothing you can't do.
"My dream, my hunger for glory: I want to be world champion. When you have a dream, you do not get discouraged; you do not get tired."
Entering the ring for the first time in 2009, at the age of 29, the young fighter remains Ecuador's most promising after competing in 167 rounds with a 23 percent knockout average, and ranking in 74th place in the league.
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