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Boxing

Woods may quit following heavy points defeat to Tarver

13/04/2008

Clinton Woods may quit boxing following a heavy points defeat against Antonio Tarver in their IBF light heavyweight bout in Florida.

The Sheffield boxer struggled to take the fight to the challenger and although the 39-year-old Tarver looked tired throughout the bout his work rate was still better than Woods'.

Neither fighter looked like knocking the other out during the contest but Tarver's incisive punching earned him a unanimous decision from the judges, who scored it 116-112, 117-111, 119-109.

Tarver edged the opening rounds, though both men were poor, and as Woods began to push forward the veteran picked him off him some good counter-punching.

The American caught Woods with an excellent shot in the sixth round and bloodied Woods' nose with a well-timed upper-cut.

By the eighth round Tarver was cruising and the crowd showed their displeasure that the main event in Tampa had delivered so little.

Tarver increased his work rate again in the closing rounds to ensure he was ahead when the final bell rang.

Afterwards Woods said he would asses his options but could call it a day having achieved his dream of becoming world champion.

He said: "I fought the best light heavyweight in the world. I'm happy with my career but I don't know if I'll stop. I've done everything I wanted to do."

In Atlantic City welterweight Miguel Cotto continued his ascent up the ranks with a technical knockout of Alfonso Gomez at the end of round five to retain his WBA title.

Cotto, undefeated in 32 fights, could now go on to challenge Floyd Mayweather or Ricky Hatton.