LAS VEGAS (Nevada), Sept 14: Vernon Forrest dominated Sergio Mora from start to finish to regain the World Boxing Council light middleweight title Saturday with a unanimous 12-round decision.

Mora had surprised Forrest with a majority decision victory to claim the belt on June 7.

But Forrest emphatically avenged that defeat, using a strong left jab and big overhand right as he earned scores of 118-109, 117-110 and 119-108 at the MGM Grand.

“I had to prove that I had a bad night [last time],” Forrest said. “Anybody can have a bad night. I controlled him with the jab. It was basic boxing - boxing 101.”

Forrest improved to 41-3, with 29 knockouts. Mora fell to 21-1-1, with five wins inside the distance.

Forrest was the more active fighter, using his jab and rights to keep Mora off balance.

Swelling was visible over Mora’s left eye after the third, and Forrest opened a cut over the eye in the fifth.

Forrest consolidated his lead with a knockdown with a left hook just before the bell to end the seventh.

While Mora started throwing more punches later in the fight, he could never seriously hurt Forrest.

On the same card, Juan Manuel Marquez stopped Joel Casamayor in the 11th round as he made a successful move to the lightweight division.

Mexico’s Marquez improved to 49-4-1 with 36 wins inside the distance.

Casamayor fell to 36-4-1 with 22 knockouts.

Marquez withstood a strong attack by Casamayor in the first three rounds and then took control of the bout.

He sent Casamayor to the canvas twice in the fierce 11th round and referee Tony Weeks called a halt after the second knockdown at 2:55 of the round.—AFP