Slick lightweight Zahir Raheem kept his title hopes alive last night at the Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa, OK with a wide ten round points decision over Mexico's Cristobal Cruz.
But the Philadelphia born Las Vegas man didn't have it easy as his Tijuana based rival constantly bored in with a rough and unflattering style that made Raheem work the entire fight.
Try as he might, Cruz's persistent efforts simply couldn't erase the wide skill disparity as former world title challenger Raheem countered with stinging combinations that found their openings in the Mexican's wide, arcing punches.
After ten rounds, Raheem, 28-2 (16), swept the scorecards 100-90 (twice) and 99-91. Cruz drops to 34-11-1 (22).
The chief support bout saw Brooklyn's Shaun George drop from cruiserweight to face faded ex-world title challenger Richard Hall at light heavyweight.
George, 14-2-2 (6), used advantages in youth, quickness and skill to outpoint the massive punching but slow 35 year old Hall, 27-7 (25), with scores of 78-74 on all three cards.
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