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Tarver Retains Light Heavyweight Belt

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The Associated Press

Published: December 2, 2007

Updated: 12/02/2007 12:33 am

LEDYARD, Conn. - Tampa's Antonio Tarver stopped Danny Santiago in the fourth round Saturday night to retain his IBO light heavyweight title.

Tarver used a series of combinations to score a technical knockout victory over Ocala's Danny Santiago at 2:53 of Round 4 at Foxwoods Arena. It was the first successful title defense for Tarver, who captured the IBO crown in June.

Tarver (26-4) moved methodically in the first two rounds, rarely throwing more than one punch at a time and barely fazing Santiago (29-4-1).

Tarver finally came to life in Round 3, showing more snap with his punches. He landed a straight left to Santiago's nose midway through the round, but Tarver was unable to put combinations together to do further damage.

In Round 4, Tarver used a combination to put Santiago down. Santiago got up, but Tarver finished him off with another flurry of combinations that dropped him to one knee.

Also, Vernon Forrest successfully defended his WBC super welterweight title, stopping Michele Piccirillo at 2:21 of the 11th round after landing two crushing right hands.

It was the first title defense for Forrest (40-2). The Atlanta fighter won the WBC crown with a unanimous decision over Carlos Baldomir in July.

Meanwhile, Nonito Donaire (19-1) successfully defended his IBF and IBO flyweight titles, stopping Luis Maldonado (37-2-1) at 1:16 of the eighth round.

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