By Greg Beacham
Las Vegas - Indonesia's Chris John retained his WBA featherweight title with a unanimous decision over Rocky Juarez on Saturday, hanging on in the 12th round to win their second bout in seven months.
Australian Michael Katsidis took the interim WBO lightweight title with a split-decision win over Vicente Escobedo on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s comeback fight against Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand Garden.
John was clearly quicker through most of the rematch of the fighters' February, which ended with a rare unanimous draw in Juarez's native Texas - a fight many thought John won.
Juarez staggered John with about one minute left in the bout, but John stayed upright on wobbly knees to remain unbeaten.
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"It was a very tough fight," John said. "In the last round, I was hurt. My eye was really swelling up, but I kept on fighting like Arturo Gatti."
John scrapped the first scheduled rematch in June because of illness, but looked thoroughly sharp in just his second U.S. fight. John, who beat Marquez in March 2006 in his native Indonesia, honored the late Gatti on his trunks.
Judge Glenn Hamada scored it 114-113 for John, while Adalaide Byrd favored him 119-109 and Herb Santos agreed 117-111. The Associated Press scored it 116-112 for John.
"My home is now Nevada, because the same fight in Texas would be different," John said.
Juarez, who lost to Marquez two years ago, again fell short in his fifth shot at a major title.
Katsidis, whose only career losses are to Joel Casamayor and Juan Diaz, apparently didn't believe Escobedo could hurt him. The notoriously defense-deficient Australian, who enters the ring in a Spartan helmet to honor his Greek heritage, fearlessly waded in against Escobedo's punches, willingly taking a shot to deliver three.
"It's an amazing thing for a fighter to get off the ground and win a title again," Katsidis said. "I'm a fighter that gives it all, and I needed to give it all to win it. I was willing to put in more than he was. If I can get off the ground and win a title, anyone can."
Escobedo, whose corner was manned by Marquez trainer Nacho Beristain, rarely found his rhythm while ducking away from Katsidis' pressure. The 2004 U.S. Olympian had won his previous 12 fights. - Sapa-AP
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