1.
GTV Empty boxing ring
0.03

2.
GV Start of fight with Galindez in white trunks, Fourie in dark trunks (2 shots)
0.24

3.
Round 8 action: GV & SV Galindez attacking (2 shots)
0.40

4.
Round 13 action: GV & SV Galindez pressing (2 shots)
1.26

5.
Round 15: GV & SV Galindez cornering Fourie (2 shots)
1.54

6.
GV End of match, fighters embracing
2.00



Initials BB/2345 PS/JB/BB/0005


SPORT: BOXING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Victor Galindez of Argentina retained his World Boxing Association light heavyweight title in Johannesburg on Monday night (7 April) with a bruising, bloody and narrow points victory over South African challenger, Pierre Fourie.

Galindez made a valiant comeback in the last seven rounds of the 15-round match after Fourie had opened a deep and freely bleeding cut over his right eye in the eighth. At that point, the wildly partisan crowd at Ellis Park screamed for the kill, but Fourie was unable to follow up on his advantage.

Instead, Galindez pressed the attack for the rest of the fight, obviously aiming for a knockout. But in the end, the champion -- who won the vacant title last December from Len Hutchins of the United States -- was forced to settle for a narrow points victory. The scoring was kept secret -- as is the custom in South Africa -- but most ringside experts felt that Galindez had won by only a single point.

It was Galindez's first defence of his title, and the disappointed Fourie -- who had lost two earlier attempts to win it -- immediately asked for a re-match; Galindez said he would be happy to oblige him.