Daniel Geale became Australia's newest world boxing champion on Sunday morning with a split-decision victory over Germany's Sebastian Sylvester.
The 30-year-old was favoured by two of the three judges, with scores of 118-110 and 118-112, while the third had the German winning 118-110, as the gritty Tasmanian picked up Sylvester's IBF middleweight title for his trouble.
Geale started brightly at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany, working well behind his jab and using good foot speed to evade any danger.
But Sylvester found his rhythm in the middle rounds, and looked to have Geale confused by his hand speed at times as the Australian started to tire.
Many of the rounds were tough to call, but in the end the judges decided Geale had done enough to deserve the nod.
The Australian, who dropped a controversial points decision to Anthony Mundine in May 2009, lifted his career record to 25 wins from his 26 fights while Sylvester, 30, lost his fourth bout in 39 contests.
