Tarver knocks out Santiago to defend IBO title

Antonio Tarver easily defended his IBO title Saturday night.

Mashantucket, CT - Antonio Tarver easily defended his IBO title Saturday night with a fourth round knockout of journeyman Danny Santiago at Foxwoods Casino.

In his first defense of his newly-reclaimed title, the 39-year-old Tarver (26-4, 19 KOs) had no trouble with Santiago (29-4-1, 19 KOs).

In the decisive fourth round, Tarver dropped his opponent twice — the second time sending him through the ropes — and the match was stopped at the 2:53 mark.

Santiago, a loser by knockout in four of his last 12 fights — including an eight-round stoppage by Zsolt Erdei in July — was a late-stage replacement for Danny Green, who opted out of a Tarver match to take a fight with WBA champion Stipe Drews on December 16.

Prior to the Tarver bout, WBC light middleweight champion Vernon Forrest (40-2, 29 KOs) retained his title with a technical knockout in round 11 over challenger Michele Piccirillo (48-4, 30 KOs). The 36-year-old Forrest sent Piccirillo to the mat in the sixth round as well as the ninth before ending things in the 11th.

In other action, IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire (18-1, 11 KOs) successfully defended his title against Luis Maldonado (37-1-1, 28 KOs). The 25-year-old Donaire sent Maldonado to the mat in the seventh round and won after things were stopped at 1:16 of round eight.

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