PALM SPRINGS, California (AP) -- Light heavyweight Julio Gonzalez of Mexico defeated Montell Griffin on Thursday night after the fight was stopped in the sixth round because a head butt left Gonzalez with a deep cut on his right eyelid.
The doctor stopped the bout at 1:11 in the sixth with Gonzalez ahead on two of three judges' cards. Two judges scored the bout 60-55 and 60-54 for Gonzalez, while the third judge had it at 57-57.
Both fighters suffered cuts in the third round from another head butt.
Gonzalez (38-2, 23 knockouts) is a former WBO light heavyweight champion ranked No. 4 by the IBF.
Griffin (47-6, 30 KOs) is a former WBC champion and ranked No. 3 by the IBF.
Both weighed in at 175 pounds for the fight, sanctioned by the IBF as an elimination for the light heavyweight title.
