Sporting UK- Don King's world title double-header in New York failed to shed any light on who will take over from Lennox Lewis as king of the heavyweight division.
IBF champion Chris Byrd could only hold onto his belt via a draw with Andrew Golota while John Ruiz was unimpressive in retaining his WBA title courtesy of an 11th-round win over Fres Oquendo.
Seven years after being demolished inside a round by Lewis, Golota appeared to have finally exorcised those ghosts when outworking Byrd for two thirds of their contest.
However, Byrd came on strong in the latter stages and the 36-year-old Pole was denied victory as scores of 115-113, 113-115 and 114-114 allowed his American opponent to remain champion.
Byrd had lost two of his previous 39 fights, including an October 2000 points defeat by Wladimir Klitschko, who last week went down to long outsider Lamon Brewster for the WBO title.
Ruiz, who reclaimed his WBA belt after previous conqueror Roy Jones ruled out a rematch, looked to be labouring towards an ugly points victory before stopping Fres Oquendo in the penultimate round.
Ruiz landed with a big right which stunned his opponent and the referee quickly stepped in when he followed up with a barrage of shots from both hands.
The 32-year-old American improved his record to 40 wins against five losses and one draw. Oquendo suffered his third defeat in 27 fights, having previously gone down on points to Byrd in September.
It now remains to be seen if Vitali Klitschko can confirm the promise shown in his unlucky loss to Lewis last year when he takes on Corrie Sanders for the WBC title in Los Angeles next weekend.
.
|
|
|
|
© Copyrights / All Rights reserved: Doghouse Boxing 1998-2004
|
Media Report (April 18, 2004)
