Jeff Harding, a substitute from Australia who appeared hopelessly beaten after five rounds, came ragoxinging back to win the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight title by stopping Dennis Andries in the 12th round Saturday in Atlantic City.
Harding, knocked down in the fifth round and cut over both eyes, knocked down Andries twice in the final round. Referee Joe Cortez stopped the bout after the second knockdown, at 1:23 of the round.The 33-year-old Andries got up after the second knockdown, but it was obvious he could not continue.
Most observers gave the 24-year-old Harding little chance against Andries, who had fought much better competition in his 41-bout career. Harding had a 15-0 record, but had not fought outside Australia or against world-class opposition.
Andries, however, said before the fight in the ballroom at the Convetion Center that he considered Harding a threat.
Andries was right - and then some.
Harding, who scored his 12th knockout, kept flailing away at Andries' body even when the defending champion was dominating the fight. Those body blows softened up Andries' aging legs.
Andries, of Britain, who fights out of Detroit's Kronk Gym, speared his young challenger with jabs and teed off with head shots in the first half of the fight.
He knocked down Harding with a left hook in the fifth and seemed on his way to victory in his first defense of his second reign as WBC champion.
Harding got his title shot when Donny Lalonde, who had been training for the fight, decided to retire.
The surprise loss gave Andries a 34-8-2 record with 21 knockouts.
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Orlando Canizales used blazing hand speed to stop Kelvin Seabrooks 47 seconds into the 11th round and retain his International Boxing Federation bantamweight title Saturday afternoon in Atlantic City.
Referee Steve Smoger halted the scheduled 12-round bout after Canizales landed a four-punch combination, driving Seabrooks to the ropes. New Jersey State Athletic Commissioner Larry Hazzard sat ringside and was pounding on the canvas trying to stop the fight because Seabrooks was looking away from the punches.
Canizales, of Laredo, Texas, improved to 22-1-1 with 19 knockouts. Seabrooks, of Charlotte, N.C., fell to 25-14 with 19 knockouts.