Moreno retains WBA bantamweight title

07-06-2009 | AFP

The Panamanian defeated France’s Mahyar Monshipour in a split decision

Panama Star POITIERS, FRANCE. Anselmo Moreno of Panama has retained his World Boxing Association bantamweight title in Poitiers, France, with a split decision over Mahyar Monshipour of France.

The Panamanian boxer caught Monshipour with a left hook in the first round and several sharp jabs in the second.

Moreno (26-1-1) kept his composure Saturday as Monshipour pressured strongly between the eighth and 10th rounds, holding on for the victory. Two of the judges scored the bout 116-113 and 116-112 in favor of Moreno, while the third gave the fight to Monshipour, 115-113.

Moreno's only loss was in 2002, when he was just beginning his professional career. He won the WBA bantamweight title on May 31, 2008 from the Ukrainian Wladimir Sidorenko to become Panama's 25th world champion.

Monshipour (31-4) returned to boxing in December, three years after losing his super bantamweight title to Thailand's Somsak Sithchatchawal in March 2006.