Steve Robinson, brought in as a last-minute substitute after champion Ruben Palacio tested positive for the AIDS virus, won the vacant World Boxing Organization featherweight title Saturday night with a split decision over John Davison.
The 24-year-old Welsh fighter became champion only one day after the WBO named him as a stand-in for Palacio, who was stripped of the crown after becoming the first holder of a title to test positive for HIV.Robinson, not rated in the top 10 by the WBO, used an effective display of counter-punching to outlast the 34-year-old home favorite in 12 rounds.
American judge Albert Wilensky scored it 115-114 for Robinson, Denmark's Knud Jensen had it 116-114 for Davison, and Puerto Rico's Samuel Conde cast the deciding vote of 115-114 for the Welshman.
Even though the WBO title has relatively minor status in world boxing, Robinson can count himself as the first Welsh fighter to win a world crown in 25 years.
Robinson, who weighed 1251/2, came into the bout with a modest record of 13-8-1. Under WBO rules, he will have to fight the leading contender within 120 days. That is likely to be Briton Colin McMillan, who lost the title to Palacio in September.
Davison, 1243/4, fell to 15-4.