Garay wins WBA crown in Argentina

July 4, 2008 - BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)—Hugo Hernan Garay of Argentina won the vacant WBA light heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Yuri Barashian of Ukraine.

Garay, relying on right-handed jabs, raised his record to 31-3 with 17 knockouts in the Thursday night bout in downtown Luna Park. Barashian dropped to 25-4, with 17 knockouts.

The title was made vacant after Australia’s Danny Green withdrew.

“I sacrificed a lot for this, and now I’m going to enjoy it,” Garay said “I think I won a good fight.”

In a 12-round bout with no knockdowns, judge Ricardo Duncan or Panama scored it 118-111. Ruben Garcia of the United States called it 120-108 and Stanley Christodoulou of South Africa 118-110.