 |
|
|
|
Senchenko holds off Navarro
Vyacheslav Senchenko retained his WBA welterweight belt when he beat Charlie Jose Navarro on points in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Monday night.
The scores were 116-113, 115-113 and 115-113.
The unbeaten Senchenko rocked Navarro on a number of occasions with straight rights to keep the energetic Venezuelan at bay.
Senchenko's record improved to 31-0 with 20 knockouts. Navarro lost for the fourth time in 22 fights.
The champion's strategy was to keep Navarro at distance with his strong left jab, often following up with straight rights.
He connected well at the end of the fourth and fifth rounds after the Venezuelan had opened a small cut on the champion's nose.
Senchenko stunned him again in the seventh with a powerful counter right, but the challenger kept firing rapid combinations.
The quicker Navarro was unable to do sufficient damage and Senchenko scored again in the 11th with a straight right that knocked his opponent backwards.
The champion then hung on despite a final charge by Navarro.
