After 12 rounds, it appeared that two-time super-middleweight champion Anthony Dirrell(33-2-2, 24 KOs) did enough to defeat Kyrone Davis(15-2-1, 6 KOs), but when the scores were read, Dirrell’s fight with Davis ended in a split-draw in a WBC super-middleweight title elimination bout on Saturday night from the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles(FOX).
Judge Patrick Russell scored it 115-113 for Dirrell. Judge Lou Moret had it 115-113 for Davis, and Judge Zachary Young had it 114-114 even.
“I thought I won the fight. I pushed the fight, hit him with cleaner punches,” Dirrell said. “He hit gloves a lot; I knew it was going to be a draw—as soon as they said it was going to be a split decision. I can’t control what the judges do, and I respect them all because they have different perspectives and angles on what is happening.
“I was pressing the fight; I wasn’t tired at all. My jab was working. But I can’t stop what the judges think. Davis fought well. He did what he was supposed to, came in with a good game plan. He was boxing; he normally doesn’t do that. But we pressed the action.”
The 36-year-old Dirrell was coming off a hard-fought loss to former champion David Benavidez, but at this point, he wants a belt and has no interest in a rematch with Davis.
“I’m looking for a title. I’m not looking for just another fight. I’m looking for a big fight. That’s the plan,” Dirrell said. “I’ll take whoever has a belt, whoever we can get. I’ll take a Canelo or a Caleb Plant.”
Like Dirrell, Davis, whose biggest win was against Marcos Hernandez, felt he won the fight.
“I thought I won the fight, 116-112. It was a great opportunity, he said. They doubted me. They told me he was going to knock me out. This was supposed to be a showcase for him, but it wasn’t,” Davis said. “My body felt well. I felt good. Anthony Dirrell is a two-time world champion. I really wanted to make a statement. A draw is not as bad as a loss, but I really don’t like breaking even.”
It was a close fight, and while it appeared Dirrell won, this was not a robbery. However, going forward, both guys will probably go in different directions.
Photo: Sean Michael Ham/TGB Promotions
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