Tarver dethrones Woods in light heavyweight boxing fight
TAMPA, Florida (AFP) — Antonio Tarver captured the International Boxing Federation's light heavyweight belt Saturday by outpointing former champ Clinton Woods at the Tampa Forum arena.
Englishman Woods dropped a wide 116-112, 117-111, 119-109 decision in a lacklustre fight against American Tarver.
"I fought the best light-heavyweight in the world," Woods said. "All credit to Tarver, he did a fantastic job."
Tarver landed a flush left in the fourth round and continued to look a little too clever for Woods in a fight which provided few fireworks.
The American dominated in the fifth, counterpunching his way past the Briton, who looked woefully short of ideas.
Tarver dominated the sixth, during which he flung home left jabs at will and fired right uppercuts which left Woods bleeding around his nose.
After taking more punishment in the final round, Woods slumped back to his corner and waited for the verdict.
"I'm happy with my career but I don't know if I'll stop," Ward said. "I've done everything I wanted to do.
"I'll go home, see my wife and play with my kids and make the decision. Maybe I have something left."
In an earlier match, unbeaten light heavyweight champion Chad Dawson beat former world champion Glen Johnson by taking a 12-round decision.
Johnson, the former International Boxing Federation light heavyweight champ, made Dawson work for it.
Dawson got into trouble in the third and tenth round as he took a couple of hard shots that almost sent him to the canvas.
