Battered Chavez retains title

Julio Cesar Chavez survived a bruising battle with David Kamau to retain his World Boxing Council super-lightweight title on a unanimous verdict in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Fighting with a cut over his left eyelid, a bloody nose and trailing on one scorecard and level on a second after seven rounds, Chavez staged a furious comeback to take his 96th win in 98 fights.

A questionable knockdown in the eighth round turned the fight in Chavez's favour. Kamau was counted down by the referee, Mills Lane, when he hit the floor after a jab from Chavez struck him on the shoulder. Television replays showed that he lost his footing on the wet canvas as he was preparing to throw a counter-punch. "I wasn't hurt," Kamau said. "He pushed me."