Timothy Bradley retains WBO welterweight title by nevel
One of the world's best: It is now 31 fights unbeaten for the American
Timothy Bradley added Juan Manuel Marquez's illustrious name to his increasingly-impressive resume in Las Vegas on Saturday night as he prevented the Mexican becoming a five-weight world champion.
He outpointed the ageing star to retain the WBO welterweight title he controversially won from Manny Pacquiao last year and for which he was much-maligned by the boxing fraternity .
But the 30-year-old from California fought a punch-perfect fight against the man who himself stunned Pacquiao with a one-punch knockout last December, albeit winning by split decision as one judge inexplicably awarded the fight to the eventual loser.
The early action promised much with both fighters happy to take the front foot, but it was Marquez who landed the cleaner blows, although Bradley returned with a few of his own.
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The champion found the mark with a punishing body shot early in the second round, but referee seemed to call it low. The round ended with a frenzy in the corner, with both men throwing hayemakers.
This time it was the younger man who landed the bigger shots but the bell sounded, allowing the Mexican to catch a breath.
The fighters exchanged rounds in three and four, and Bradley tried to press the issue in the fifth, but ended up walking onto a few sharp ones.
Marquez landed a vicious body shot late in the fifth, although Bradley quickly countered. The round finished with both men goading each other by sticking their chins out. That brought a rapturous reception from the crowd at the fifth bell.
The fight was still close heading into the seventh round, but it was Bradley looking the more comfortable. Just as the champion seemed to be pulling away on the scorecards, the 40-year-old landed a few heavy punches to shade a round back.
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He looked the more menacing early in the 10th but Bradley turned the tide with a few well-timed shots, forcing him to tuck up. He still managed to land a stiff right before the bell, although it did not seem to trouble the American.
Bradley looked to be just ahead on the scorecards heading into the final round but a big finish from Marquez finished the stronger, bringing the 13,000 crowd to their feet.
With seconds left on the clock, Bradley nearly put Marquez down with a swift left as the two combatants finished with a flurry.
Two of the judges scored the bout 115-113 for Marquez and Bradley, but the third had it 116-112 in favour of the champion, whose unbeaten record now extends to 31 fights
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Bradley has struggled for recognition despite his unbeaten record and had taken unnecessary risks in his last outing, going toe-to-toe with the dangerous Ruslan Provodnikov before narrowly outpointing the Russian.
He reverted to type against Marquez however and proved to be one step ahead of the 40-year-old for the duration of an entertaining if tactical contest.
After a cautious opening three minutes, the champion seized the initiative at the start of the second session, darting in and unloading before seeking his refuge at distance. Marquez, meanwhile, was struggling to close that gap and any shots he did land were immediately and forcibly reciprocated.
The Mexican veteran managed to stem the tide in the third round of what was becoming an increasingly tactical affair but he continued to struggle with Bradley's speed and movement in the fourth.
