SAINT-QUENTIN, France – Cristobal Cruz retained the IBF featherweight title in earning a close unanimous decision over Cyril Thomas on Saturday.
The 31-year-old Mexican fighter took control from the start with heavy punches and an efficient strategy, eventually hurting Thomas with effective combinations in the seventh and eighth rounds.
Thomas was unable to recover and took a flurry of blows until the end of the fight.
Two judges had it 115-113 and the other 116-112, all for Cruz, who improved to 38-11 with one no-contest. Thomas dropped to 33-3 with four draws.
Cruz had won the vacant IBF title last October by beating countryman Orlando Salido. He defended his title for the first time against Thomas, the brother of French double-Olympic medalist Jerome Thomas. (AP)