Souleymane Cissokho retained his WBA Intercontinental super welterweight championship in a tremendous performance against Mexican Fernando Valenzuela Jr., whom he defeated by unanimous decision this Saturday night at the Pechanga Arena, in San Diego, California.

The Senegal-born Frenchman came out on cards of 100-90, 99-91 and 99-91 after battling the Mexican fighter in a very interesting fight.

Although he dominated almost every moment of the fight, Cissokho had to deal with a knockdown in the fourth round. Valenzuela, who always went forward and sought to connect the champion, connected a good right hand at that moment that sent his opponent to the canvas. 

Cissokho got up and looked pretty hurt, so he started to walk the ring and hug as a survival instinct. However, he gradually recovered and at the end of the same fourth chapter he surprised with a right straight right and returned the fall to the Mexican to equalize the round.

The winner knew how to use the distance and the ring well to elude Valenzuela. He hit well with his jab and straight right to dominate the scorecards without too much inconvenience. 

It was the second defense of the regional crown for Cissokho, who remains undefeated in 15 fights, 9 of them won by knockout. Valenzuela, meanwhile, dropped to 23 wins, 3 setbacks and 19 knockouts.