Undefeated Tavoris Cloud retained his International Boxing Federation light heavyweight title on Friday with a 12-round unanimous decision over Colombia’s Fulgencio Zuniga.
America’s Cloud improved to 22-0 with 18 victories inside the distance as he made his second defense of the title.
On the same card, undefeated Odlanier Solis won a heavyweight title eliminator when Ray Austin was disqualified with a second remaining in the 10th round after a clinch that nearly sent Solis over the ropes.
Solis, a 2004 Olympic champion from Cuba, improved to 17-0 and earned a title shot against World Boxing Council champion Vitali Klitschko.
“He is accurate and has good defense,” Austin said. “He rests and recovers, well, too. The only downside for him could be his chin. I see him being the next champion. He is good.”
The Cuban dominated with his speed and punishing combinations, pushing Austin back for most of the bout.
Solis landed a series of combinations to Austin’s head in the 10th that had Austin appearing out on his feet and after another big right from Solis, Austin clinched. Austin pushed Solis into the ropes and they almost fell over.
Solis had sent Austin to the canvas in the fifth with a left to the head.
While Solis appeared to dominate, one judge had the fight 85-85, another scored it 88-82 for Solis and the third 86-84 for Austin through the first nine rounds.
“What’s the worst that could have happened — I could have knocked him out or make him look ridiculous,” Solis said. “I made him look ridiculous.”
Cloud’s victory was a more straightforward affair. He controlled the pace against Zuniga, using a stinging jab as well as big right crosses and left hooks.
He couldn’t stop the tough Colombian, but won on all three judges’ scorecards: 117-108, 118-108 and 116-109.
Zuniga fell to 24-5-1.
“I know I had better skills, but he obviously came into this fight in good shape,” Cloud said. “I only give myself a ‘B’ performance. I will tell you, I took this man seriously because I knew he was going to come to fight.”
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Revelations of positive doping tests for nearly two dozen Chinese swimmers that went unpunished sparked an intense flurry of accusations and legal threats between the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the head of the US drug-fighting organization, who has long been one of WADA’s fiercest critics. WADA on Saturday said it was turning to legal counsel to address a statement released by US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) CEO Travis Tygart, who said WADA and anti-doping authorities in China swept positive tests “under the carpet by failing to fairly and evenly follow the global rules that apply to everyone else in the world.” The
Taiwanese judoka Yang Yung-wei on Saturday won silver in the men’s under-60kg category at the Asian Judo Championships in Hong Kong. Nicknamed the “judo heartthrob” in Taiwan, the Olympic silver-medalist missed out on his first Asian Championships gold when he lost to Japanese judoka Taiki Nakamura in the finals. Yang defeated three opponents on Saturday to reach the final after receiving a bye through the round of 32. He first topped Laotian Soukphaxay Sithisane in the round of 16 with two seoi nage (over-the-shoulder throws), then ousted Indian Vijay Kumar Yadav in the quarter-finals with his signature ude hishigi sankaku gatame (triangular armlock). He
Rafael Nadal on Wednesday said the upcoming French Open would be the moment to “give everything and die” on the court after his comeback from injury in Barcelona was curtailed by Alex de Minaur. The 22-time Grand Slam title winner, back playing this week after three months on the sidelines, battled well, but eventually crumbled 7-5, 6-1 against the world No. 11 from Australia in the second round. Nadal, 37, who missed virtually all of last season, is hoping to compete at the French Open next month where he is the record 14-time champion. The Spaniard said the clash with De Minaur was