Tim Bradley walked away with a pair of world light-welterweight boxing titles on Saturday, but the way he defeated Devon Alexander in the showdown of the US unbeatens had the loser crying foul.
Bradley won by a unanimous technical decision after the bout was halted in the 10th round because of an accidental head-butt that left Alexander unable to see from his right eye because of a cut opened on his right eyelid.
Referee Frank Garza stopped the fight two rounds early on the advice of ringside doctors and judges handed the verdict to Bradley by scores of 98-93, 97-93 and 96-95. That outcome left Alexander angry.
“He kept rushing in with his head. I kept getting head-butted,” Alexander said. “I can count at least six head-butts. He kept head-butting me, so they stopped the fight.”
Bradley opened the cut on Alexander’s eyelid in the third round with what was ruled an accidental head-butt. When the gash was torn open in the early seconds of the 10th round, Alexander was blinded and the fight halted.
“I couldn’t see. For real. It was burning,” Alexander said. “I’ve never been hit with a head-butt like that before. He came in full force. The doctor said [the cut] was in a dangerous place, so he stopped the fight. I’m upset. He didn’t stop me from using my skills. I thought I was winning the fight.”
Bradley, 27, improved to 27-0 and kept his World Boxing Organization crown while taking the World Boxing Council title from 23-year-old southpaw Alexander, who fell to 21-1.
Bradley was concerned about multiple head-butts, but never expected the fight to end early because of them.
“I didn’t think the fight would be stopped this way,” Bradley said. “It was going back and forth in there. He and I were coming in at the same time. I was conscious of it. I knew sooner or later [a head-butt] would happen. I was real confident knocking down his shots, taking his best punches, going to the body hard and forcing the actions.”
Bradley is anxious to fight England’s Amir Khan (24-1), who holds the World Boxing Association crown.
“Khan, right now, would probably be No. 1 on my list now,” he said.
Bradley also would not mind being in the conversation with Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino star regarded as the world pound-for-pound king.
“That where the key is, Manny Pacquiao,” Bradley said.
Alexander, however, is planning a different fate for Bradley.
“There’s a rematch clause,” he said. “I’ve got to fight Tim Bradley next.”
WILLIAMS V LEWIS
AP, GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
All Blacks rugby star Sonny Bill Williams has retained his unbeaten record as a professional boxer, beating Australian journeyman Scott Lewis on points over six rounds.
Williams was forced to go beyond the second round for the first time in his three-bout professional career to win a unanimous points decision over Lewis, a 36-year-old unemployed forklift driver.
He had previously beaten New Zealanders Garry Gurr and Ryan Hogan in one-sided contests.
Lewis ended Saturday’s bout with his right eye almost closed by Williams’ jabs. Judges scored the fight 60-55, 60-55 and 60-54 in favor of Williams, who switched to rugby union from rugby league in 2008.
Williams is able to pursue a professional boxing career along with his rugby career under the terms of his contract with New Zealand Rugby Union.
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