Kazakhstan's Beibut Shumenov set a boxing record Friday by winning the WBA light heavyweight title in just his 10th professional bout, outpointing Spain's Gabriel Campillo in a split-decision.
Shumenov's effort outdid Michael Spinks, who held the previous mark by winning a championship in his 17th pro fight.
The scorecoards revealed a peculiar discrepancy. Judge Levi Martinez scored the fight strongly in favor of Campillo (117-111), while both other judges went for Shumenov: Jerry Roth had it 115-113 while Particia Morse Jarman scored the fight 117-111.
Shumenov started strongly, controlling the action in the early rounds before Campillo rallied in the middle rounds.
``I'm not surprised by the decision,'' Shumenov said. ``I had the better trainer and he told me what to do to win.''
``This win is for my friends and family back in Kazakhstan.''
Friday's bout was a rematch of their title fight last August when Capillo won a contentious mixed decision, and this time around it was the Spaniard who was angered by the scoring.
``I got robbed,'' Campillo said. ``I want an investigation of the judges.''
Shumenov upped his record to 9-1 with six knockouts. Campillo, from Spain, fell to 19-3 with five KOs.
