Schwer clinches world title at last

13 April 2012

Luton's Billy Schwer captured the IBO light-welterweight championship from Colombian Newton Villareal at the Wembley Conference Centre.

Schwer outpunched and outgamed Villareal to gain a unanimous verdict by scores of 118-111, 116-112 and 117-110.

Schwer's victory made up for three defeats as a world lightweight challenger.

A battered but delighted Schwer said: "It was a tough fight but I dug deep and I'm glad to have got it over with."

At times it looked like the heavier punching Villareal, making his third defence, would once again deny Schwer of his dream.

But it was Schwer's dogged persistence and heart that eventually sealed his merited victory over the South American.

Schwer gained an early success in round two when a right to the back of Villareal's head caught him off balance and made him touch the canvas, which brought a mandatory count of eight from American referee William Connors.

But the Colombian soon recovered his composure and appeared to dominate the next four rounds through his heavier punching, and one of the blows drew blood from the bridge of Schwer's nose.

A cut on the side of Villareal's left eye in the first round did not seem to hamper him as much as a cut in the same area of Schwer's right eye in round six.

But Schwer, despite his bleeding nose and mouth, weathered Villareal's punches and gradually turned the tide as the fight progressed.

He even gained a brief respite in round eight when Villareal was admonished by referee Connors for landing a right to Schwer's unprotected head instead of breaking when told to do so.

Schwer's knees appeared to buckle from a downward right to the head in round nine, but he came back to punish the champion with a series of left hooks and jabs to the jaw.

Two good upper cuts in round 10 drew blood from Villareal's nose, and Schwer had further success when he again outjabbed the rangy South American.