Boxing: Cameron wins cruiserweight belt

New Zealand boxer Shane Cameron made a spirited and victorious debut to the next phase of his career in Perth overnight (NZT).Former heavyweight Cameron won the vacant International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Asia Pacific cruiserweight title with a common points win over Australian Anthony McCracken.He is now in line for a mandatory world title challenge against Danny Green, the Australian who defended his IBO world champion belt with a points decision win over previously-unbeaten American BJ Flores in the feature fight at Perth. Since losing a high-profile heavyweight fight to compatriot David Tua a year ago, Cameron has shed 10kg.

He made an inspiring start in his new weight division, emerging victorious from a bruising 12-round affair.Judges scored the fight 117-111, 116-112 and 116-112 in Cameron's favour, bringing jeers from a narrow crowd when the outcome was announced.Cameron was the more aggressive fighter, pressing forward from the opening bell against a superior technician in McCracken, who moved well and employed quick flurries of blows to good effect. Cameron was caught with blows to the head several times and cuts around his eyes bled heavily, not helped by a head clash in the 10th round.

The New Zealander was most impressive when he went to McCracken's body, along with unleashing some overhand rights, which were effective late against a tiring opponent."It was a tough clash, like they all are, but I felt relaxed in the ring and felt in control of it and got the result in the end," Cameron said."As always, you'd like the knockout but the knockout didn't come tonight."I'm happy to be coming home with the win and being another step closer to my goal of a world title back to New Zealand."Cameron's professional record now reads 26 wins - 20 by knockout - and two losses.