Barthelemy claims IBF lightweight
Fury to attend BBC award show
LOS ANGELES, Dec 19, (AFP): Unbeaten Cuban Rances Barthelemy won a 12-round unanimous decision over Denis Shafikov to claim the vacant International Boxing Federation lightweight world title Friday in Las Vegas.
Russian southpaw Shafikov was aggressive early, throwing punches from all angles.
But he was troubled by a bad cut over his right eye from a Barthelemy punch in the seventh round.
As blood flowed profusely from the cut in the eighth, referee Vic Drakulich called the ringside doctor to inspect it.
Barthelemy, who improved to 24-0 with 13 wins inside the distance, stepped up his attack and his focus on the Russian’s eye, and that, along with his height and reach advantage, saw him gain the decision by scores of 119109, 116-112 and 116-112.
“There were moments where I was trapped into my style of fighting. It took me a minute to adjust to Shafikov’s style and exchange punches with him,” Barthelemy said. “I’m really happy with the number of punches I was able to get off.”
“I was really impressed with Shafikov’s warrior style,” the Cuban added. “He never gave up even after getting hurt with punches that were affecting his fight. That really caught me by surprise and also that he was able to last the whole fight. The fact that he continued really says something about him as a fighter.”
Barthelemy claimed the lightweight belt won by American Mickey Bey with a split decision over Mexico’s Miguel Vazquez last year.
Bey vacated the title rather than make a mandatory defense against Shafikov in July.
World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury plans to attend the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award show despite the controversy over his nomination.
Fury is in the running to win the main award after the British fighter clinched the WBA, IBF and WBO titles in last month’s stunning victory against Wladimir Klitschko in Germany.
However, his comments comparing homosexuality and abortion with paedophilia, and saying a “women’s best place is on her back” led to a petition calling for Fury’s removal from the nominees for the awards reaching in excess of 130,000 signatures.
The BBC has been steadfast in its stance on Fury, with director general Tony Hall insisting he has been included on the list for his “sporting prowess”.
Now Fury’s promoter has confirmed the champion will be in attendance at the awards ceremony in Belfast this weekend.
Hennessy Sports said in a release: “Tyson Fury WILL attend this Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, despite weeks of controversy surrounding his nomination.”