By Frank Shelner

LE CANNET, France — Undefeated French boxer Hassan N'Dam successfully defended his interim WBA middleweight title with a unanimous decision over Giovanni Lorenzo of the Dominican Republic on Saturday.

N'Dam (26-0) caught Lorenzo with a big left hook in the third round, then had Lorenzo backing off in the fifth and sixth as Lorenzo struggled to match his tempo.

But N'Dam suddenly lost control midway through the sixth round, getting caught with several good punches and even falling through the ropes, although they seemed too loose.

Ringside officials tightened up the ropes as they were fighting in the seventh, which saw a solid stomach punch from N'Dam.

N'Dam scored 119-110, 116-110 and 119-109 on the judges' cards.