PONTIAC, Michigan: Tim Bradley walked away with a pair of world light-welterweight boxing titles Saturday, but the way he defeated Devon Alexander in the showdown of US unbeatens had the loser crying foul. Bradley won by unanimous technical decision after the bout was halted in the 10th round Saturday because of an accidental head-butt that left Alexander unable to see from his right eye because of a cut opened on his right eyelid. Referee Frank Garza stopped the fight two rounds early on the advice of ringside doctors and judges handed the verdict to Bradley by scores of 98-93, 97-93 and 96-95. That outcome left Alexander angry. “He kept rushing in with his head. I kept getting head butted,” Alexander said. “I can count at least six head butts. He kept head butting me so they stopped the fight.” Bradley opened the cut on Alexander's eyelid in the third round with what was ruled an accidental head-butt. When the gash was torn open in the early seconds of the 10th round, Alexander was blinded and the fight halted. “I couldn't see. For real. It was burning,” Alexander said. “I've never been hit with a head butt like that before. He came in full force. The doctor said (the cut) was in a dangerous place so he stopped the fight. I'm upset. “He didn't stop me from using my skills. I thought I was winning the fight.” Bradley, 27, improved to 27-0 and kept his World Boxing Organization crown while taking the World Boxing Council title from 23-year-old southpaw Alexander, who fell to 21-1. Bradley was concerned about multiple head butts but never expected the fight to end early because of them. “I didn't think the fight would be stopped this way,” Bradley said. “It was going back and forth in there. He and I were coming in at the same time. I was conscious of it. I knew sooner or later (a head-butt) would happen. “I was real confident knocking down his shots, taking his best punches, going to the body hard and forcing the actions.” Bradley is anxious to fight England's Amir Khan (24-1), who holds the World Boxing Association crown. “Khan right now would probably be number one on my list now,” he said. Bradley also would not mind being in the conversation with Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino star regarded as the world pound-for-pound king. – Agence France
