Funeka-Guzman a Controversial Draw

Rangy South African Ali Funeka used his height, his jab and a bludgeoning right hand to bloody Joan Guzman's face, but had to settle for a controversial 12-round majority draw that left the IBF lightweight (135 pounds) title vacant before a stunned crowd at Pepsi Coliseum in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Judge Joe Pasquale scored it 116-112 for Funeka, and both Alan Davis and Benoit Roussel had it a draw, 114-114. FanHouse scored it 116-112 for Funeka.

The 6-foot-1, 31-year-old Funeka slipped to 30-2-3, with 25 knockouts, and 33-year-old Guzman remained unbeaten at 29-0-1, with 17 stoppages.

"I don't know what to say. I can't even talk about it. I was supposed to win this fight," said Funeka, who had won 16 straight, with 14 knockouts before February's majority decision loss to Nate Campbell.

In the eighth round, Funeka nearly stopped Guzman with a short right hand, and fired several followup punches on the groggy fighter near the end of the round.

Funeka then controlled the ninth, 10th, and 11th rounds from a distance, peppering Guzman with his left jab and bombing him with right hands along the ropes as the previously unbeaten fighter began to fade.

Guzman enjoyed some spirited moments in the 12th, but Funeka was able to close strongly by out-gunning his rival over the final moments of the fight.

The Funeka-Guzman, HBO-televised clash took place on the undercard of an IBF super middleweight (168 pounds) title bout between Lucian Bute (24-0, 19 KOs) and Librado Andrade (28-2, 21 KOs).

Although cut over his right eye after an apparent second-round head-butt, the 5-foot-7 Guzman established himself as the busier fighter over the first two rounds as he moved in and out and worked the head and body early.

In the third round, however, Funeka's hard jab was more effective as he developed a rhythm that centered Guzman for a heavy followup right hand that caused blood to flow from the shorter man's nose.

It was more of the same in the fourth and fifth rounds as Funeka maintained his distance behind double and triple jabs.

Funeka punctuated the fifth round with a head-swiveling, straight right hand to Guzman's chin and later an uppercut that split Guzman's guard just prior to the bell.

Meanwhile, Funeka's right hand became harder, widening the gash over Guzman's right eye and increasing the amount of blood that poured out of his nose.

In the sixth round, Guzman -- his white trunks stained with his own blood -- was able to momentarily trap Funeka on the ropes and unleash a potent body attack. Guzman also landed a nice overhand right in the round.

Funeka rediscovered his rhythm for a time, but Guzman closed the sixth by winning an exchange of fierce blows from close range to take the round.

Guzman was able to take the seventh round by keeping the action within close range, roughing up Funeka on the inside and beating him to the punch -- even backing Funeka against the ropes on occasion.

Guzman nearly accomplished the same thing in the eighth until being rocked by a short right hand and bombarded and nearly stopped over the closing moments.