Boxing : Chavez Successfully Defends WBC Title

Julio Cesar Chavez retained his World Boxing Council super-featherweight title at the Stade Louis II Sunday night by winning a 12-round decision over American Rocky Lockridge.

Two judges gave Chavez the decision and another judge had the bout even.

The victory gave Chavez a 49-1 record as he defended his title for the sixth time. Lockridge is 38-5.

Italian judge Giuseppe Ferrari scored it 119-114 in favor of the champion. Miguel Donate of Puerto Rico had it 116-113, Chavez, while Jean Deswart of Belgium had it even, 116-116.

Both fighters came into the bout just under the 130-pound limit.

Chavez, 24, injured a knuckle on his right hand in the fourth round, scoring against the head of Lockridge. It slowed Chavez a little throughout the fight, forcing him to use his jab.

Chavez said he has better days. “Every fighter has those days,” Chavez said. “In the fourth round I hit his head and hurt my hand.”

Chavez, from Culiacan, Mexico, retained his title for the third time in less than three months. He appeared to be in control late in the fight but slowed down near the end of the later rounds.

Lockridge, a native of Tacoma, Wash., is a former WBA super-featherweight champion who lost his title in a disputed decision last year to Wilfredo Gomez of Puerto Rico.

Lockridge, 27, was constantly moving forward throughout the fight but failed to do any damage to Chavez. There were no knockdowns.

“I was stunned twice but never really was hurt,” Lockridge said. “Maybe I was not quite as prepared as I should have been.”

In the final rounds, Lockridge appeared to make progress but Chavez always was able to move out of trouble.

For Lockridge, it was the seventh time he fought for a world championship. He won the WBA title in 1984 against Roger Mayweather and defended it twice before losing to Gomez.

Chavez’s only setback was a disqualification to Miguel Ruiz of Culiacan, Mexico, on April 3, 1981.