Substitute Wins Light-Heavyweight Title

Jeff Harding, a substitute from Australia who appeared hopelessly beaten after five rounds, came back to win the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight title by stopping Dennis Andries in the 12th round Saturday at Atlantic City, N.J.

Harding, 24, knocked down in the fifth round and cut over both eyes, knocked Andries down twice in the final round. Referee Joe Cortez stopped the bout after the second knockdown, at 1:23 of the round. The 33-year-old Andries got up after the second knockdown but he was in no condition to continue.

Harding (15-0), who scored his 12th knockout, kept pounding away at Andries’ body. The body blows softened up Andries’ legs. The loss gave Andries a 34-8-2 record with 21 knockouts.

Andries, 175, of Britain, who fights out of Detroit’s Kronk Gym, continually landed jabs and powerful rights in the first half of the fight. He knocked down Harding with a left hook in the fifth and seemed on his way to victory in the first title defense of his second reign as WBC champion.

Harding, 174 1/2, started to take control in the eighth round as Andries’ legs began to go. In the second half of the fight, Andries kept throwing head punches, while Harding kept punching to the body and also scored effectively with short blows to the head.

Harding got his chance when Donny Lalonde, who was training for the fight, decided to retire.

Also at Atlantic City, Orlando Canizales used his superior hand speed to stop Kelvin Seabrooks 47 seconds into the 11th round and retain his International Boxing Federation bantamweight title.

Referee Steve Smoger halted the scheduled 12-round bout after Canizales landed a four-punch combination, driving Seabrooks into the ropes.

Canizales, of Laredo, Tex., improved to 22-1-1 with 19 knockouts. Seabrooks, of Charlotte, N.C., is 25-14 with 19 knockouts.