Bunema defends title with split decision

WORLEY, Idaho – It was close, but Alex Bunema gets to keep his belt.

The Seattle middleweight successfully defended his World Boxing Council Super Welterweight championship Thursday night at the Coeur d’Alene Casino, stopping Vince Phillips on a split decision.

Bunema (26-4-2) remains one of the top contenders in the middleweight division – fighters between 154 and 160 pounds – while holding the belt at the lighter division (147-154).

Both fighters came into the casino’s House of Fury expecting a 12-round battle and the fight lived up to that promise.

Bunema won on two judges’ scorecards, 118-112 on one, 115-111 on the other. The third judge scored the fight 117-113 in favor of Phillips (46-9-1).

In the semi-main event, Las Vegas cruiserweight “King” Arthur Williams (40-12-1) scored a unanimous, eight-round decision over Tim Shocks of Kent, Wash.

Spokane’s Chauncy Welliver (23-3-3) scored a costly six-round decision over Great Falls, Mont., heavyweight Ted Reiter.

“I felt my (left) elbow pop in the second round,” Welliver said. “I couldn’t use my left hand much. The ring doctor told me to go to the hospital and have it looked at and I’m going to do that. I may be done for a while.”

Coeur d’Alene cruiserweight Shawn Hawk had an impressive home-ring debut, knocking out Greg Benson, a heavyweight from Moreno Valley, Calif., in 56 seconds.

Hawk is now 5-0 as a professional, with all five victories coming by knockout.