Kazakhstan's Gennady Golovkin defeated American Daniel Jacobs by a unanimous decision in a 12-round bout at New York's Madison Square Garden, unifying the world middleweight title.
Golovkin, who entered the fight holding the World Boxing Council (WBC), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) titles, took the World Boxing Association (WBA) title from Jacobs, reports Efe news agency.
"I respect Daniel Jacobs, and he did a very good job and clean job," Golovkin said after Saturday night's bout.
"Daniel Jacobs is my favourite fighter -- quality, very good fighter after I knocked him down. I respect his team."
Two of the judges scored the fight 115-112 for Golovkin, while the third judge had the fight going 114-113 for the Kazakh fighter.
Jacobs, for his part, expressed unhappiness over the fight's outcome.
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"I think I won the fight, and I think the fans support me. I think I won by two rounds at least. They want the big fight (Golovkin against Canelo Alvarez), and Daniel Jacobs got X'd out. I won the fight, and I won the decision, and all I can do is be gracious in the decision," Jacobs said.
The 34-year-old Golovkin, who entered the fight having won 33 of his 36 bouts in the weight class and 23 straight fights since 2008, went to the 11th round for the first time in his career.
Golovkin unleashed a barrage of punches at the 30-year-old Jacobs in the last three minutes of the fight, sealing the victory.
The Kazakh boxer also knocked down Jacobs in the fourth round and appeared to be making an early night of it, but the American got up and continued fighting.
Golovkin made at least $2.5 million from the fight, while Jacobs took home a purse of at least $1.75 million.
--IANS
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