ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Doug DeWitt, fighting with an injured left hand most of the fight, rocked Robbie Sims throughout Tuesday night's bout and won a split decision in a 12-round middleweight tilt.
The bout was for the fledgling World Boxing Organization's vacant middleweight title. The WBO, the newest boxing group, is not considered a major title sanctioning body.
Judges Lynn Carter scored the fight 116-112 for DeWitt and John Stewart had DeWitt the winner 115-113. Eva Shain scored it 115-113 for Sims.
DeWitt, of Yonkers, N.Y., said he hurt his hand in the second or third round. He had battered Sims with left hooks the first three rounds, then stopped in the fourth. He shook his left throughout the fourth round, and seemed frustrated by the injury when he walked back to his corner.
For several rounds, DeWitt poked left jabs and caught Sims with hard rights before he landed a hard left hook that rocked Sims in the seventh. Sims was also hurt by a left hook in the first and a right uppercupt in the fifth.
Sims' right eye began closing in the third round and was shut by the eighth.
Sims, a southpaw, was most effective when catching DeWitt with right hooks from outside. DeWitt's left eye was cut by a clash of heads in the 10th round, after Sims began a late rally. But DeWitt took control again by driving Sims into a corner with a left-right combination.
Sims, of Brockton, Mass., and DeWitt both lost in world championship matches. Sims dropped a 12-round decision to then-World Boxing Association champion Sumbu Kalambay in his previous fight last June.
DeWitt, who lost a 1985 decision to Sims, was stopped in seven rounds by Kalambay last November.
DeWitt, 27, improved to 31-6-4. Sims, 31, fell to 29-6-2. Sims was cheered on by his borther, former middleweight champion Marvin Hagler, during the fight at the Showboat Hotel and Casino.
