WBA champ Keith Thurman defeated Danny Garcia by a split decision Saturday night to claim the WBC welterweight belt in a unification clash between a pair of unbeaten champions. Thurman successfully defended his title for the third time, winning a tactical defensive struggle by scores of 116-112, and 115-113 on two of the judges' scorecards. The other judge had it 115-113 for Garcia. "Ain't no robberies happening tonight," said Thurman, who improved to 28-0 with 22 knockouts. Saturday's matchup between the 28-year-old Americans was only the third time in history that two undefeated fighters fought to unify welterweight world titles and the first since Oscar de la Hoya faced Felix Trinidad in 1999. Thurman is the first fighter in the division to hold multiple titles since Floyd Mayweather held the WBA, WBC and WBO belts after defeating Manny Pacquiao in 2015. There were no knockdowns as the 12-round fight at the Barclays Center turned into a strategic battle. Thurman was the aggressor, scoring early then staying out of trouble in the final rounds for the victory. Garcia suffered his first loss in 34 fights. He was warned for a low blow in the seventh round. At the end of the 11th he seemed confused and headed to the wrong corner before Thurman tapped him on the shoulder and pointed him in the right direction. Thurman is now 7-0 with three knockouts in world title fights. Bellew breaks hand in Haye victory Tony Bellew says he broke a hand early in his thrilling heavyweight victory over fellow Briton David Haye, who was badly hampered by a leg injury. Haye's corner threw in the towel in the 11th round at London's O2 Arena Saturday with the 36-year-old suffering a suspected Achilles injury halfway through the bout. But surprise winner Bellew revealed he too had been hurt. "I broke my right hand in the second or third round. It is sore now but I don't feel the pain — all I think about is winning," the 34-year-old told BBC Radio Five Live. Bellew described his injured hand as being "the size of a small bowling ball". The build-up to the fight was dominated by trash-talking between Bellew and Haye, but they were respectful of each other afterward and a rematch could even be on the cards. Bellew, a cruiserweight champion who stepped up in weight to fight Haye, said he will take time to assess his future. However, his promoter Eddie Hearn said he had already been approached by the camps of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder and WBO title-holder Joseph Parker. Prior to Saturday, Londoner Haye had fought just three times since losing a heavyweight unification bout to Wladimir Klitschko in 2011. Haye, who has 28 wins from 31 bouts, said his opponent fully deserved the victory but wanted a rematch. "I would love to do it again, I have never been in a fight like that," he said. "If the fans want to see it again I would do it again. We'll do it on his terms, in his town - he deserves it." — Agencies
