Sunday 26 November 2017 07:31, UK
Yuriorkis Gamboa defeated Jason Sosa after ten rounds of exciting super-featherweight action at the Madison Square Garden Theater in New York.
Despite a knockdown being ruled against the flamboyant Cuban in the seventh round, Gamboa claimed a majority decision verdict via scores of 95-93, 96-92, while one judge's card returned a 94-94 draw.
The former unified featherweight world champion will now hope victory will return him to world title contention.
It was Gamboa, 35, a 2004 Olympic gold medallist, who got the better of the opening period, landing some sharp right hands as he skilfully evaded Sosa's swinging range-finders.
In the next though, 'El Canito' started to find his own success, a crunching right hook stiffening the legs of the Cuban late on.
Sosa continued to grow into the contest, looking to rough up Gamboa on the inside as he darted into range and fired home single shots.
The 35-year-old Cuban native, light on his fight, was proving the more skilled of the pair though, producing flashy and eye-catching moments, but the American remained intent on bullishly marching forward and unleashing leather.
Sosa then got the knockdown in the seventh as, despite the best efforts of his slick counterpart, Gamboa touched down after a sustained attack left him off balance.
'El Ciclon', who appearing clearly fatigued, perhaps got the better of the following rounds as Sosa smothered a lot of his work and despite Gamboa having a point deducted for repeated holding in the last, he managed to get over the line to take the decision.
