Will
03-14-2007, 01:28 AM
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- Souleymane MBaye of France retained his WBA light-welterweight title by fighting to a draw with Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday.
The defending champion survived a strong final round by the challenger from Ukraine. There were boos from fans at Liverpool Olympia when the decision of the three British judges was announced.
Paul Thomas gave the fight 115-114 to MBaye, who focused mainly on counterattacks but hurt Kotelnik around his left eye. The champion faded in the second half of the fight and took several heavy right hands, and judge Mickey Vann scored it 117-112 for Kotelnik.
Terry O'Connor had it a 114-114 draw.
MBaye, who is now 35-1-1, beat Kotelnik on a split decision in October 2004. Kotelnik is now 27-2-1.
The defending champion survived a strong final round by the challenger from Ukraine. There were boos from fans at Liverpool Olympia when the decision of the three British judges was announced.
Paul Thomas gave the fight 115-114 to MBaye, who focused mainly on counterattacks but hurt Kotelnik around his left eye. The champion faded in the second half of the fight and took several heavy right hands, and judge Mickey Vann scored it 117-112 for Kotelnik.
Terry O'Connor had it a 114-114 draw.
MBaye, who is now 35-1-1, beat Kotelnik on a split decision in October 2004. Kotelnik is now 27-2-1.