Nuzhnenko retains interim welterweight crown via technical draw

Posted: Sat Apr 19 7:08 PM

Kiev, Ukraine (Sports Network) - Yuri Nuzhnenko retained his WBA interim welterweight title after a technical draw with Irving Garcia at the Sports Palace.

Fighting in his home town, Nuzhnenko (27-0-1) took a head butt in the second round that opened up a cut over his left eye. The cut grew worse throughout the fight, forcing the referee to stop the bout after the 10th.

One judge had Nuzhnenko ahead on the scorecard, 96-95, but the other two scored the fight at 95-95, allowing the 31-year-old to retain over the Puerto Rican Garcia (16-3-2).