Sunday 8 March 2015 13:17, UK
Keith Thurman has retained the World Boxing Association's welterweight title with a unanimous points victory over Robert Guerrero in Las Vegas.
Thurman knocked Guerrero down in the ninth round and won easily on all three ringside scorecards to defend his belt at the MGM Grand.
Mexican-American Guerrero fought hard and was not afraid to trade punches even while bleeding from a cut over his left eye late in the bout.
Thurman remains unbeaten after recording his 25th professional victory, with 21 wins by knockout. This latest victory saw scorecards of 120-107, 118-109 and 118-108.
Thurman landed 211 of 598 punches to 104 of 497 for Guerrero, but the statistics did not tell the whole story.
Florida's Thurman's punches were much harder and seemed to shake Guerrero on several occasions, though they did not deter him from pressing forward, even after being knocked down and nearly knocked out in the ninth round.
"I know I was hurting him each and every round," Thurman said. "But he's a veteran and knew how to pace himself and stay a little out of my range.
"Robert Guerrero was a tremendous warrior. He was there the whole way."
Thurman won every round on one ringside scorecard and 10 rounds on the other two, using thudding punches to keep Guerrero away.
Still, he was never able to put his opponent away and Guerrero came back in the 10th round to land some big punches of his own while pinning Thurman on the ropes.
On the undercard, Adrien Broner beat John Molina in a super-lightweight bout by a unanimous points decision.
Former three-division world champion Broner took his record to 30-1, with the judges scoring the fight 120-108, 120-108 and 118-110.
Ohio's Broner was a comfortable winner - Californian Molina rarely threatened - but that did not bother him.
"I had to do what I had to do to get the victory," said Broner. "My defence was as sharp as a thorn."
