Woods wins split decision to retain IBF title
BOLTON, England (AP) – Clinton Woods survived a ninth-round battering to keep his IBF light-heavyweight title after a split decision over Glencoffe Johnson on Saturday. A former world champion at the weight, the 37-year-old Johnson landed a big right hand followed by two left hooks in the ninth.
But the American failed to put Woods down in a thrilling contest that had no knockdowns, and the British fighter came back with three strong rounds.
Judge Mickey Vann gave it 115-113 to Johnson. But Richard Bays scored it 115-112 and Roberto Ramirez 116-112 to the champion, who captured his 40th victory against three losses and a draw.
Johnson is now 44-11-2.
The two fighters, meeting for a third time, fought out a draw the first time they met for the vacant title in November 2003. Three months later, Johnson won an unanimous decision to capture the crown, which he later relinquished.
Now Woods is even.
“He hit me with some massive shots in that round,” Woods said. “I don’t know if it’s just Johnson who maybe brings out the worst in me. He’s so awkward when you fight against him. He’s been a great champion.
“People don’t know how much Johnson hurt me that second fight. I was very near to hanging my gloves up.”
Johnson is convinced he beat Woods this time, too, even though two judges disagreed.
“I truly believe I won the fight,” Johnson said. “There were some close rounds in there. Clinton Woods won a couple of rounds, but for the most part they were just close rounds.”
On the same card, Souleymane Mbaye knocked down Raul Balbi twice before stopping Balbi in the fourth round to capture the vacant WBA light-welterweight title.
The Frenchman overcame an injury above his right eye in the first round to outpunch the Argentinian.
He floored Balbi with a long right hand in the second round and put him down again early in the fourth with another right. Although Balbi got up, he never recovered, and referee Paul Thomas called an end to the fight with 46 seconds left in the round.
It was Mbaye’s second attempt to win the title, having been beaten on points by Vivian Harris three years ago for his only loss. His record is 35-1 while Balbi has lost eight times against 54 triumphs.
Promoted by Frank Warren, MBaye hopes to line up a fight against former world champion Ricky Hatton or the winner of next month’s WBC title contest between Junior Witter and DeMarcus Corley.
On the undercard, former Olympic lightweight silver medalist Amir Khan needed less than two minutes for his ninth pro victory, knocking down Ryan Barrett three times in the opening round.