Judge Jonathan Davis scored it 116-112 for Santa Cruz, while Pat Russell had it 118-110 and Fritz Werner scored it 119-109. The Associated Press favored Santa Cruz 117-111.
DONAIRE V ARCE
AP, HOUSTON, Texas
Nonito Donaire stopped Jorge Arce with left near the end of the third round to retain the WBO super-bantamweight championship at Toyota Center on Saturday.
Donaire, from the Philippines, improved to 31-1 with his 20th knockout. Arce, from Mexico, dropped to 61-7-2.
The fight headlined HBO’s World Championship Boxing season finale.
The broadcast marked Larry Merchant’s last after 35 years as a ringside boxing commentator for the network.
An undercard fight between WBA super-bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba and Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym was called off after Poonsawat failed blood tests last week.
Poonsawat was subsequently denied a license by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The reason for the failed blood tests was not disclosed.
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