Romanian Diaconu lands interim WBC light heavy title

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian Adrian Diaconu registered a unanimous points win over American Chris Henry to become the World Boxing Council's interim light-heavyweight champion on Saturday.

The three judges scored the contest 116-113, 115-113 and 115-113 as the Montreal-based Diaconu took his unbeaten record to 22 fights.

Henry controlled the opening round before Diaconu, cheered on by a lively crowd of 6,000, slowly seized the initiative.

The Romanian known as 'The Shark' piled on the pressure in the eighth round and appeared to be on the brink of a knockdown until his opponent was saved by the bell.

But the American refused to give in and made Diaconu work hard for his victory.

"It wasn't my best fight but I did what I had to do in order to win," said the interim champion after handing Henry his first professional defeat.

The WBC crown has been held since February 2007 by American Chad Dawson, who won a unanimous decision over Jamaican Glen Johnson in April.

Diaconu was due to fight Dawson on September 29 in Sacramento, California but pulled out after breaking his right hand in training. The American chose to fight Johnson instead.

Once Diaconu recovered, however, the WBC ordered the Montreal-based boxer to fight Henry for an interim title, with the winner becoming the mandatory challenger to Dawson.

(Reporting by Radu Timofte, Editing by Tony Jimenez)