Lackluster Decision Over Bean Lets Moorer Retain IBF Title

Michael Moorer didn’t do anything to please the crowd or his corner. About the only thing he did right Saturday night against Vaughn Bean was hang on to his International Boxing Federation heavyweight title.

Moorer fought cautiously and defensively against an opponent many thought shouldn’t even have been in the ring, barely keeping his piece of the heavyweight title with a majority decision over Bean.

The fight ended with boos from the crowd after 12 lethargic rounds at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Moorer made the fight much closer than it should have been, winning, 116-113, on the scorecard of Bill Graham and 115-113 on the card of Jerry Roth. Judge Dave Moretti had it 114-114. The Associated Press had Moorer ahead, 117-111.

“It was the style. I knew I won. I was the aggressor. I used my jab,” Moorer said. “They say styles make fights. I did what I had to win. I knew I won.”

Moorer (39-1) never seemed to hurt the challenger and there were no knockdowns.

Bean fell to 27-1.

In other fights:

* Former champion Julio Cesar Chavez won a 10-round decision over Tony Martin, but Chavez looked more like an aging fighter than the legendary boxer who won titles in four weight divisions.

Chavez (99-2-1) ended the fight with his hands raised in triumph, but his left eye nearly closed from the right hand of the journeyman Martin (34-6-1).

* Ricardo Lopez (45-0) defended his World Boxing Council strawweight title for the 19th title with a lopsided 12-round decision over Mongol Charoen of Thailand.