Leonardo Mosquea (16-0, 9 KOs) has too much firepower for Chevron Clarke (10-1, 7 KOs), dropping him in the first, and out-slugging him all the way through to win a 12-round split decision to win the vacant EBU cruiserweight title on Saturday night at the Salle des Étoiles, in Monte Carlo.
(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)
Mosquea, 30, jumped on Clarke early in the first round, connect with two left hooks that sent him down on the canvas. That knockdown took the fight out of Clarke, as he showed no heart to stand his ground against the younger, faster, more powerful Mosquea.
In the championship rounds, Clarke’s corner tried to wake him up to motivate him to go to war with Mosquea. He couldn’t do it. Clarke attempted to let his hands go in the 11th, but at some monstrous left hooks from Mosquea that wobbled him. After that, Clarke played it safe and boxed and moved for the final round to take his loss.
The scores were 117-113 for Clarke, 116-112 and 115-113 for Mosquea.
