Los Angeles - Unbeaten Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic survived a cut over his right eye on Friday to seize Panamanian Anselmo Moreno's World Boxing Association bantamweight world title in Mesquite, Texas.
Payano, a four-time Olympian competing for his first professional world title, earned the unanimous technical decision in a fight halted after six rounds because of the cut he received by accidental head butt early in the bout.
When the fight was stopped, Payano was ahead 59-55 on one judge's card and led the other two by 58-56.
Payano improved to 16-0, with eight knockouts. Moreno fell to 35-3-1, with 12 wins inside the distance.
The fight was the main event of a card put together by Mike Tyson's Iron Mike Productions, and the former heavyweight world champion was present at the Resistol Arena, in suburban Dallas - a venue better known as the home of the Mesquite Rodeo.
Sapa-AFP