LAS VEGAS, NV -
"Relentless" Lamon Brewster won the 12th and final round on two of the three judges' scorecards to eke out an extremely close 12-round split decision over Kali "Checkmate" Meehan and retain his World Boxing Organization (WBO) heavyweight title Saturday on SHOWTIME.
If Brewster does not win the last round, Meehan gets the upset victory and becomes the first New Zealand-born boxer to capture the heavyweight crown in 107 years. There were no knockdowns.
In the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING co-feature from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Undisputed Welterweight Champion Cory retained his International Boxing Federation/World Boxing Association/World Boxing Council (IBF/WBA/WBC) titles with a lopsided 12-round unanimous decision over former WBC champion and current No. 1 contender, Miguel Angel Gonzalez.
Brewster (30-2, 26 KOs), of Los Angeles, by way of Indianapolis, got the nod by the scores of 115-113, 114-113 and 113-114. Brewster, who appeared to be out on his feet in the eighth round, won the last four rounds on one of the scorecards, and the last three on another.
He was making the first defense of the WBO title he won with a stunning fifth-round TKO over favored Wladimir Klitschko in Las Vegas on April 10, 2004. The hard-hitting Brewster had a five-fight knockout winning streak end.
Meehan (29-2, 23 KOs), of Wyongah, Australia, by way of Auckland, New Zealand, nearly became the first Kiwi to hold a world heavyweight title in 107 years – the last was New Zealand boxing legend Bob Ruby Fitzsimmons, who captured the heavyweight crown by defeating James J. Corbett in 1897. Meehan had a six-fight winning streak end, but many feel he deserved a better fate.
Spinks (33-2, 11 KOs) of St. Louis, earned the victory by the scores of 118-109 on all three judges’ scorecards. Spinks, who was coming off 12-round decision victory over former world junior welterweight champion Zab Judah on April 10, 2004, utilized his speed, movement and boxing ability to dictate the pace throughout.
The son of Leon and nephew of Michael Spinks shocked the boxing world by upsetting then-World Boxing Association (WBA) and WBC champion Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga via split decision on Dec. 13, 2003. Spinks won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title in his second attempt against Michele Piccirillo by registering a 12-round unanimous decision on March 22, 2003.
Gonzalez (50-4-1, 40 KOs), of Mexico City, gave his best and never quit trying to come forward. But, at 32, the proud, former WBC lightweight titleholder was no match for the younger, naturally bigger Spinks. Gonzalez, who has fought some of the best in the world in his career, including Oscar De La Hoya, Julio Cesar Chavez and Kostya Tszyu, had a five-fight winning streak snapped.
The son of Leon and nephew of Michael Spinks shocked the boxing world by upsetting then-World Boxing Association (WBA) and WBC champion Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga via split decision on Dec. 13, 2003. Spinks won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title in his second attempt against Michele Piccirillo by registering a 12-round unanimous decision on March 22, 2003.