Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Former two-division world champion Timothy Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs) and Argentine contender Diego “La Joya” Chaves (32-2-1, 19 KOs) fought to a controversial split draw at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The 12-round bout was the main event of a triple-header presented by Top Rank Promotions and HBO Boxing.
Bradley pressed the action early by landing right hands in the opening round. Then, the 31-year-old native of Cathedral City, California began closing the distance to work on the inside.
“My corner told me to close the gap on him, to try to wear him down a little bit,” said Bradley, who along with Chavez suffered swelling in his left eye due to unintentional headbutts in the early rounds.
Bradley’s game plan was to evidently tire Chaves a bit before landing counterpunches from the outside.
“I moved back to the outside because he started wearing down then I could land counters on him because I’m quicker,” said Bradley.
Chaves, 28, of Argentina, was able to land right hands on the opponent, but it was Bradley who was more effective both on the inside and the outside.
Burt A. Clements scored the fight 113-115 for Bradley, Julie Lederman scored the fight 116-112 for Chaves and Craig Metcalfe scored the fight a 114-114 draw.
“For the most part I felt I controlled the action. I was landing cleaner punches. I felt I won the fight,” said Bradley.
Chaves, on his part, felt he won the fight.
“I think it was a pretty even fight but I felt I was superior in many instances in the fight,” said Chaves.
