Teresa Perozzi retained her WBA world middleweight belt after seeing off challenger April Ward at Berkeley Institute tonight.

Despite dictating the tempo througout the fight with a barrage of devastating left hooks, Perozzi was forced to go the distance before being unanimously declared the winner.

American judges Lynn Carter and Steve Weisfield both had Perozzi winning 100 – 90, while local judge Vic Richmond also had the defending champ ahead 99 – 92.

With the win Perozzi improved her pro record to 9-4-1 while Ward slipped to 8-5-0.

The 38-year-old southpaw peppered Ward throughout the entire fight but failed to deliver the knockout her performance so richly deserved.

“I should've had the knockout, but I didn't prepare for her running that much,” Perozzi said. “But it's a win and I'll take it.”

Ward took defeat all in stride.

“I am proud if what I did and there's no shame in losing to the world champ,” she said. “I'm glad I lasted ten rounds and done the best I've ever done.”

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