Santa Cruz defends IBF belt

Published Dec. 15, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Leo Santa Cruz defended his IBF bantamweight title with a unanimous decision over Alberto Guevara on Saturday in the first live boxing match on CBS in 15 years.

Santa Cruz (23-0-1, 13 KOs) won his third defense of his 118-pound belt in just over three months with steady aggression against Guevara (16-1), who performed well despite taking the fight on three weeks' notice.

Santa Cruz overcame an apparently injured nose by breathing through his mouth for most of the fight. He also fought through a right hand injury picked up in sparring, switching to a southpaw style while steadily breaking down Guevara with an impressive 989 punches in the 12-round bout.

Judge Jonathan Davis scored it 116-112 for Santa Cruz, while Pat Russell had it 118-110 and Fritz Werner scored it 119-109. The Associated Press favored Santa Cruz 117-111.