Boxing: Cameron subdues stubborn champion to stitch up belts

Exhausted and blood-splattered, Shane "The Mountain Warrior" Cameron needed every ounce of energy to topple Roger Izonritei in an enthralling heavyweight boxing title fight last night.

Cameron eventually earned the Australian-based Nigerian's IBF Pan Pacific belt when referee Lance Revill stopped a brutal encounter late in the 10th of 12 scheduled rounds seconds after Izonritei was subjected to a fourth standing eight count.

The 31-year-old refused to throw in the towel, showing remarkable reserves of stamina and courage before the Australasian champion finally extended his professional record to 16 wins and 0 losses.

Cameron, who needed stitches to close gashes over his right eye and the middle of his forehead, cut a relieved figure in the Auckland Boxing Association stadium dressing room after a bout that was harder than he had envisaged.

Izonritei, now 11-5, had been given little chance of troubling the 28-year-old but clung on bravely to frustrate Cameron and a capacity crowd of 500.

Sensing a quick kill in the fourth round, Cameron was unable to finish off a fighter yet to go the distance -- win or lose -- in any of his previous pro fights.

"I thought it was going to be over pretty early but credit to him -- he kept coming back. He come prepared."

Cameron had no intention of outlasting Izonritei and admitted he was caught short when trying to effective a quick kill.

"I tried to finish him off but I couldn't. When I hit him with a body shot (in the seventh) I thought he'd stay down after that but he showed a lot of fight.

"I used a lot of energy trying to finish him off."

After the opening two rounds amounted to little more than a feeling out process the contest ignited in the third when Cameron, already cut above the right eye, winged Izonritei with a right hand before unleashing a stinging combination.

Izonritei retreated on jelly legs at the end of the third and fourth rounds but refused to buckle and scored points with his jab without placing Cameron in serious jeopardy, although the bleeding was becoming a concern.

Cameron was on the canvas momentarily in the fifth, but only after grappling and losing balance with his belligerent adversary.

A bronze medallist at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002, Cameron also added the vacant WBA Pan African belt to his collection.

Plans for the rest of the year are unclear and dependent on how quick his facial injuries heal. He expected to be out of action for 2-3 months.

Regarded now as the best heavyweight in the Southern hemisphere, Cameron said he would consider defending his titles or heading back to United States.

- NZPA