LAS VEGAS -- David Izegwire's unbeaten streak and brief reign as International Boxing Organization cruiserweight champion ended yesterday when the Nigerian native was stopped by Adolpho Washington of Lexington, Ky., at 2:49 of the eighth round of a nationally televised bout.
Although Izegwire (18-1), who fights out of Washington and doubles as a high fashion designer, was leading on the cards of judges Al Siciliano and Art Lurie by a 67-66 margin after seven rounds, referee Ken Bayliss' decision to stop the fight drew only mild protest from the champion's manager, Don Elbaum.
Washington (24-2-2), who had won the first three rounds with his superior boxing and quick flurries, rebounded from several solid right hands by Izegwire in the fourth and fifth rounds.
Early in the eighth round, Washington staggered Izegwire with a crisp right cross. Pressing the advantage, Washington trapped Izegwire in a corner and landed a series of hard punches before Bayliss intervened.
"I wasn't hurt," said Izegwire, 30. "I was surprised the referee stopped it. I thought I was getting to him in the last few rounds. Naturally, I am very disappointed how it ended. But I am not offering excuses. I must go back to the gym now and work on a lot of things."
Said Elbaum: "It got stopped too quick. Izegwire was never down. A referee owes a champion at least that much."
Izegwire had won the vacant title in Aspen, Colo., last December when he knocked out Henry Milligan in the eighth round. He made his only successful defense in Connecticut last August, stopping former champion Bobby Czyz in four rounds.
Said Izegwire's veteran trainer, Bob Brown: "David just didn't have the same fire as he did when he fought Czyz.
"He should have gone to the body more. He's got an excellent jab, and he didn't use the jab enough after he damaged Washington's eye in the third round. But give the other guy credit. He was pretty slick."
Washington, 27, who raised his record to 24-2-2 with 15 knockouts, was coming off a 12-round draw with World Boxing Council champion Ancelet Wamba in Monte Carlo in July. Ranked No. 3 by the International Boxing Federation, Washington is trained by Goody Petronelli, who also worked with former middleweight king Marvelous Marvin Hagler.
The loss was a major setback for Elbaum, who had hoped a
victory would propel Izegwire into a big-money match with World Boxing Association champion Orlin Norris.