Boxing

 

Calzaghe Retains Title - Santos keeps Crown on Decision over Takaloo

18.08 - Britain's longest reigning world champion, unbeaten Joe Calzaghe, retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super middleweight title and proved he was "King Of The Castle" by pitching a 12-round shutout en route to winning a lopsided decision over No. 3 contender Miguel Jimenez Saturday on SHOWTIME. In a second world title fight at the Cardiff Castile, Daniel Santos rallied from a fourth-round knockdown to successfully defend his WBO junior middleweight belt with a unanimous 12-round decision over No. 2 contender Takaloo. The world title bouts aired at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING via same-day tape delay. Frank Warren's Sports Network promoted the historic landmark's initial fight card.

Calzaghe (34-0, 27 KOs), of Newbridge, Wales, won his 11th title defense by the scores of 120-107 on the three scorecards. The talented boxer-puncher injured his left hand during the fight. "He was a tough guy and I would have loved to knock him out for the fans, but I boxed every round and I won every round, even with a hurt hand," said Calzaghe, who was coming off a thrilling, 12-round unanimous decision over former International Boxing Federation (IBF) 168-pound champion Charles Brewer April 20, 2002, on SHOWTIME. Regarded by many as the world's premier super middleweight, Calzaghe kept alive his chances of securing a big-name showdown with America's best, such as undisputed middleweight titleholder Bernard Hopkins or light heavyweight kingpin Roy Jones. By improving to 6-0 on SHOWTIME, Calzaghe closed to within four of tying former world champion Chris Eubank's British record of 15 168-pound title defenses.

Jimenez (21-2, 10 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, had a seven-fight winning streak end. Jimenez, who had a point deducted for an unintentional headbutt in the 10th round, gave his best and showed a solid defense, but lacked the offensive firepower to keep up. He landed only 18 percent of his punches. During an impressive amateur career, Jimenez represented Puerto Rico at the 1992 Olympic Games and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Santos (26-2-1, 1 NC, 20 KOs), of San Juan, Puerto Rico, won the first defense of his 154-pound title by the scores of 117-110, 116-112 and 116-111. A former WBO welterweight champion, southpaw Santos went down from a left hook in the fourth. But he regrouped to outbox Takaloo. Content to box for the first half of the fight, Santos became more offensive-minded and dominated down the stretch. Santos was making his first start since he moved up in weight to capture the vacant WBO 154-pound crown with an 11th-round TKO over former IBF titleholder Luis Ramon "Yory Boy" Campas March 17, 2002, on SHOWTIME. A well-schooled boxer-puncher, Santos won the 147-pound WBO crown with a fifth-round knockout over Ahmed Katejev on May 6, 2000. Santos went 117-3 in the amateurs and won Puerto Rico's only medal, the bronze, at the 1996 Olympics.

Takaloo, a.k.a. Mehrdud Takaloobighashi (19-3, 15 KOs), of Tehran, Iran, had won 14 consecutive fights, including 12 by knockout. The challenger, who's World Boxing Union (WBU) crown was also on the line, was the aggressor for the first eight rounds but faltered some late although he came back to take the final round with a strong effort. He suffered a cut across his right eyelid in the opening seconds of the match.

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING'S Steve Albert and former world champion Bobby Czyz called the action from ringside. The executive producer of the SHOWTIME telecast was Jay Larkin, with David Dinkins producing and Bob Dunphy directing. Photos: Tom Casino/Showtime

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