ROME (AP)—Giacobbe Fragomeni retained his WBC cruiserweight title Saturday night, earning a draw with Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in his first defense.
Judge Richard James Davies scored the bout 116-112 for Fragomeni, Robin Dolpierre had it 114-113 for Wlodarczyk, and Esa Lehtosaari scored it a 114-114 draw.
The 39-year-old Fragomeni was able to avoid the Polish challenger’s long reach to get in close and throw combinations, before his foot speed took him away from danger.
The Italian champion—who beat Rudolf Kraj to win the vacant title last October—finally began to land some powerful shots as he relaxed into his style, but it never appeared that Wlodarczyk would be stopped.
The 6-foot-9 Wlodarczyk, enjoying a foot in height advantage, hung around until Fragomeni began to tire in the later rounds. He put Fragomeni to the canvas in the 11th and thought he’d done it again, but referee Ian John-Lewis ruled the second time that Wlodarczyk had hit the champ while he was still down.
Fragomeni (26-1-1) hasn’t lost in six fights since being stopped by former unified champion David Haye, who has since moved up to heavyweight and will challenge Wladimir Klitschko in Germany later this summer.
Wlodarczyk (41-2-1) hasn’t lost since dropping a majority decision in an IBF title fight to Steve Cunningham in May 2007.
Judge Richard James Davies scored the bout 116-112 for Fragomeni, Robin Dolpierre had it 114-113 for Wlodarczyk, and Esa Lehtosaari scored it a 114-114 draw.
The 39-year-old Fragomeni was able to avoid the Polish challenger’s long reach to get in close and throw combinations, before his foot speed took him away from danger.The Italian champion—who beat Rudolf Kraj to win the vacant title last October—finally began to land some powerful shots as he relaxed into his style, but it never appeared that Wlodarczyk would be stopped.
The 6-foot-9 Wlodarczyk, enjoying a foot in height advantage, hung around until Fragomeni began to tire in the later rounds. He put Fragomeni to the canvas in the 11th and thought he’d done it again, but referee Ian John-Lewis ruled the second time that Wlodarczyk had hit the champ while he was still down.
Fragomeni (26-1-1) hasn’t lost in six fights since being stopped by former unified champion David Haye, who has since moved up to heavyweight and will challenge Wladimir Klitschko in Germany later this summer.
Wlodarczyk (41-2-1) hasn’t lost since dropping a majority decision in an IBF title fight to Steve Cunningham in May 2007.
