Larry Dixon of San Diego edged former 139-pound world champion Igor Ruzhnikov of the Soviet Union in the USSR-USA Heavyweight Boxing Invitational on Monday.
The victory by Dixon, 21, America's third-ranked amateur in the 147-pound class, pulled the USA team into a 3-3 tie, but the Soviets swept the next three fights and won the card 6-4.After Jerry Lee Williams won a unanimous decision over Andrei Kiselev in the 165-pound opening bout, Vladimir Ereschenko evened the card with a 4-1 decision over Pat Byrd of Flint, Mich., in the 147-pound class. Viktor Akshonov then put the USSR ahead with a 4-1 decision over Rodney Price.
Evegni Sudakov TKO'd floored Raymond Carger of Bartsdale, La., at 1:54 of their 201-pound bout.
Other decisions went to Alexander Lebziak over Mario Munoz of Denver, Colo., in the 156-pound class, 5-0; Rostislav Zaulichny over Frank Savannah of Spring Lake, N.Y., in the 165-pound class, 3-2; Sergei Kobozev over Eugene Gill of Flint, Mich., RSC, in the 178 pounds class; and Eddie Donerlson of Camp Lejune, N.C., over Vladimir Belousov in the 201-pound class, 4-1.