Undefeated John Duddy survived cuts to both eyes in the second round to win the vacant IBA middleweight title with a unanimous 12-round decision over Luis Campas on Friday night at The Theatre at Madison Square Garden.

The 27-year-old Duddy, a native of Ireland who fights out of New York, extended his winning streak to 18 fights by outpowering the 34-year-old Campas.

Duddy, who weighed 160 pounds, landed 115 of 367 power punches, while Campas, 159{, connected on just 28 of 213.

Duddy's initial cut was over the left eye early in the second round. He was then cut under the right eye later in the round. His corner was able to treat the cuts and they didn't seem to affect him adversely the rest of the fight.

The judges had Duddy winning by scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

Campas, of Mexico, dropped to 90-10.

``That comes with the sport,'' Duddy said of the cuts. ``The cut over the left eye was due to a punch, but I really thought the right eye was a butt, but it was not intentional.

``No question, he was my toughest opponent. I hit him with everything but he wouldn't go own. His experience showed especially in the final round. I was going for the knockout but he wouldn't fall. I never doubted that I was going to win the fight.''

Campas said after the fight that he plans to drop to junior middleweight for his next fight.

``I'm surprised they didn't stop the fight because of the two cuts. I thought they were bad enough for him not to continue,'' he said. ``I was even more surprised by the decision. Obviously, I thought I won.''

In a scheduled 10-rounder, Julio Cesar Garcia of Mexico knocked out countryman Ernesto Zepeda with a solid left hook to the body at 2:41 of the third round.

Garcia, 150{, knocked Zepeda through the ropes for a standing 8 count in the opening round.

Garcia improved to 38-2 with 31 knockouts, while Zepeda, 149}, dropped to 37-11-4.

© The Canadian Press, 2007