Blocker Uses Height to Take IBF Championship

Maurice Blocker earned the International Boxing Federation 147-pound title Friday night by defeating Glenwood Brown in a split decision at Atlantic City, N.J.

Blocker, 6 feet 1, used his height to an advantage, hitting the 5-7 Brown with left jabs and rattling him with counterpunches as he lunged forward before the crowd of 1,200 in a ballroom at Merv Griffin’s Resorts Casino Hotel.

Judge Rocky Castellani scored it 115-114 for Brown. Judge Lynn Carter scored it 117-111 and judge John Stewart called it 118-111, both for Blocker.

“He was smart,” Brown said. “He kept moving. He did what he had to do to win.

“I’d love to fight him again, but I know I have to work my way back up,” Brown said.