The ESPN FNF battle for the IBF featherweight strap, with Cristobal Cruz nipping Thomas Mashaba at the wire, proved a fan friendly affair with Cruz in role of “banzai” and Mashaba countering with heavier artillery. 

This one, in scoring department clearly a matter of beauty in the eyes of the beholder - Mashaba in USA debut seemingly claiming round after round with better accuracy over a non-stop flailing Cruz who was off the target time and again. 

It was all Mashaba until late in the non-stop action affair via accuracy over volume - but a no-quit Cruz battling through cut inside the mouth kept doing what comes naturally - and during the championship rounds of 10-11-12 managed to catch the judges eye.

Then the scoring - a Mashaba, wobbled and in trouble during final numero twelve, looked on in amazement as it went Cruz 115-113, 115-113, 114-114.

Post scripts:

• Cruz (36-11-1, 23 KO) ~ age 30 - courage unquestioned - battled from start to finish - still following stanza nine it seemed here it should be stopped. Round eleven looked more like the Custer last stand at Little Big Horn - but he made it to the finish line in good form.

• Mashaba (20-2-4, 12 KO) ~ age 30 -while Cruz was non-stop flailing - Mashaba was scoring with power and accuracy - this unofficial saw the African well ahead in rounds at the final bell. Wobbled late but thought Cruz needed the knockout that never came.

• Referee Steve Smoger - worked solid job in letting the action flow - maybe got away with one in not stopping the fight in number nine - but then the surprise scoring got ol’ “body bag” off the hook he may well could have been hung on.