Peden stays unbeaten

Dean Juipe

Monday, March 6, 2000 | 9:17 a.m.

Given the extensive number of fights in Las Vegas over the weekend, Sunday's boxing card at the New Frontier figured to have an anticlimactic feel to it.

And it did.

Yet the results meant something to the particulars and especially Robbie Peden, who protected his undefeated record and snagged the vacant North American Boxing Federation junior lightweight championship with a split decision win over Carlos Rios.

Peden, 16-0, thought he won a little easier than the judges gave him credit for, yet maybe they were part of the post-Trinidad, post-Ayala malaise that was apparent for a fight card that was held in a tent in the hotel's parking lot.

"I didn't think there was any doubt," Peden said of winning a fight against an opponent who habitually led with his head. "I controlled the fight. I know I let him back in the fight a little bit, but I clearly won the majority of the rounds.

"There's no way anyone should have had me behind. But it all worked out in my favor in the end, so I'm happy."

While the Sun scored the fight 117-109 for Peden, only two of the three judges agreed on the winner. Dave Moretti had it 115-111 and Vince Delgado 114-112, both for Peden, while Cindi Bartin somehow had it 115-111 for Rios.

"He was an awkward guy," Peden said. "I guess it was a good test. He wasn't dirty, but he was awkward."

Peden, 26, was a minus 300 betting favorite in the hotel's sports book and was paid $15,000 for the nationally televised fight.

Rios (48-4-2), best known for going 12 monotonous rounds with Floyd Mayweather last year, was a plus 220 underdog and was paid $10,000.

There was a mild upset in the semi-main event as Santiago Samaniego, 29-5-1, stopped Maselino Masoe, 14-1, in five rounds of a fight at 154 pounds that was scheduled for 10.