NEW YORK, NY - Chris Byrd retained his IBF world heavyweight title on Saturday but only after he and controversial fighter Andrew Golota fought out a draw at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The contest was scored 115-113 Golota, 115-113 Byrd and 114-114, leaving Golota frustrated on his comeback trail.
Golota took the fight to southpaw Byrd and maintained his discipline for much of the 12-round contest.
He was so angry at the verdict he stormed away from the ring before returning to declare: "It was a great fight but from my point of view I won the fight."
After promoter Don King promised a rematch, Golota (38-4-1) said: "No question for me. Even tomorrow."
Only once did Golota threaten to undo his own good work, when he caught Byrd after the bell for the end of the sixth round, which drew a warning from referee Randy Neumann.
Byrd (37-2-1) had been determined to wear down his heavier opponent but it was he who tired in the last two rounds with the outcome still undecided.
"I thought I had done enough to win in the early rounds," said Byrd, who was making the second defence of his belt. "But I fought like a true champion. This is the sort of (fight) the heavyweight division needs."
The undercard saw John Ruiz successfully defend his WBA heavyweight title with a technical knockout of fellow Puerto Rican Fres Oquendo with 27 seconds remaining in the 11th round.
A lackluster fight which drew loud boos suddenly burst into life when Ruiz caught Oquendo with a straight right to set up the big finish.
Oquendo, who lost to Byrd last year, complained the bout had been stopped prematurely by the referee. "I want a rematch," said Oquendo. "He stopped a great fight."
Ruiz improves to 39-4-1 (28 KOs) with the win. Oquendo falls to 24-3 (15 KOs).
Former welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga had an unexpected junior middleweight debut against an unexpected opponent, but after ten somewhat sub par rounds, he got an expected result, out pointing Eric Mitchell unanimously.
Scores were 99-90, 98-91, and 97-92 for Mayorga, who improves to 26-4-1 with 23 KOs. Mitchell drops to 16-4-1 with 7 KOs.
"I'm just glad they found me a fight, because I was ready to fight tonight," said Mayorga.
Opening the pay-per-view telecast, unbeaten Wayne Braithwaite successfully defended his WBC cruiserweight title with a unanimous 12 round decision over game challenger Louis Azille.
Scores were 120-107, 119-108, and 118-107 for Braithwaite, who improves to 21-0 (17 KOs). Azille, who was knocked out in three rounds by Braithwaite in November of 2001, drops to 18-3-2 (15 KOs).
A lackluster fight which drew loud boos suddenly burst into life when Ruiz caught Oquendo with a straight right to set up the big finish.