Boxing News: Riddick Bowe Makes Heavy Work Of Split Decision Win

In boxing action Thursday night, Riddick Bowe won a 10-round split decision over Billy Zumbrun, but not before suffering some shaky moments along the way. Judges David Denkin and Lou Filippo scored the bout 96-92 for the Bowe, while Ray Corona scored it 95-93 for Zumbrun.

Bowe weighed 280 pounds for the fight – surely cause for concern – but later claimed that it was according to plan.

“My feeling was that I didn't want to lose a whole lot of weight for this fight,” said Bowe.

Bowe scored a knockdown in the 4th round and Zumbrun had a point deducted in the eighth.

Though Bowe was able to use his jab at times to control the action, Zumbrun was able to land dangerous overhand rights to the ex-heavyweight champion's head on several occasions.

“I took a shot to the belly and it cost me the fight,” said Zumbrun. “It's my fault I lost. I thought it was the sixth round when it was the ninth, so I thought I had plenty of time left.”

“I still had plenty of energy, so I should have gone after him,” Zumbrun added. “I should have knocked him out.”

Bowe, fighting for the second time after a long layoff, sees his record go to Bowe 42-1 (33 KOs), while Zumbrun's record falls to 18-6-1 (10 KOs).

In undercard action, 2004 Olympic boxing gold medalist Andre Ward improved his record to 3-0, after opponent Roy Ashworth was disqualified at 2:56 of the third round. Ward was in control of the bout at the time of Ashworth's disqualification.

Also in undercard action, Vassiliy Jirov knocked out Forrest Neal in the third round of their scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout.