Canizales retains IBA featherweight belt

Ray Brewer

Friday, July 25, 1997 | 11:54 a.m.

Orlando Canizales successfully defended his International Boxing Association featherweight championship on Friday night with a majority - 115-114, 114-114, 117-111 decision over contender Edwin Santana in the main event of a six bout fight card at the Tropicana.

"I was tired, he was tired," Canizales said after the fight. "I dug deep inside. I knew the last three rounds were critical and I had to win them to get the decision."

Canizales, who improves to 46-3-1 with 34 KO's, was the dominant fighter in the final three rounds.

"I knew it was a close fight," Canizales said. "I was the aggressor in the last three rounds. He was waiting for me to hit him."

Despite winning the bout, Canizales wasn't happy with his preparation for the fight.

"I wasn't in decent shape," he said. "(I learned ) to be in better shape, because I'll perform better. Even though I won, I could have done better."

The fight was filled with action from bell to bell, with neither fighter able to pull away.

While suffering a defeat, Santana (22-2-3 with 6 KO's) kept the fight close until the end.

"I felt like I won the fight," said Santana. "I went 12 rounds like a toro. He is the champion, but I know I beat him."

Santana, who limped around for a majority of the fight, fought the entire bout with a three inch blister on the bottom of his foot.

"I don't want to make excuses," Santana said in reference to his injured foot. "I was limping around a little because of the brand new blister."

In other action:

Local fighters Julian Jackson, Augie Sanchez and Tracy Wilson posted victories.

Sanchez, a featherweight, improved to 11-0 with 10 KO's after flooring Jorge Palomares in the second round of a scheduled six round fight. Jackson recorded a early round knockout over Terry Ford in a 10-round middleweight showdown to improve to 53-4 with 47 KO's Wilson won an unanimous decision over Gene Jones in a four round heavyweight bout. With the win, he improves to 3-1 overall.

NOTES: Fight fans will return to the Tropicana on Saturday as Forum Boxing and the Tropicana present the NABO junior welterweight championship between Hector Lopez and Mark Lewis. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the first bell is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. This is another six-fight card.