Rayco Saunders works alone.  He promotes his boxing career.  He follows his plan.  Weightlifting a no–no for pro pugilists? Not the way he does it.

            Last night, fighting for a championship belt that he arranged to go to the winner of the Heinz Field feature bout, this Beltzhoover cruiserweight survived a last-week replacement and a last-minute bout of leg cramps.  That enabled him to wrap around his waist a North American Boxing Council championship bauble, after a majority decision against James Walton of New Orleans.

            “The belt? Hey, the belt has my legs shaking right now,” Saunders (11-3-1) said at the end of an outdoor fight night witnessed by nearly 2,000 on the patio underneath the Jumbotron.  “But it feels good. First [Pittsburgh Outdoor] title in 53 years.  I want to thank the Rooneys. I’ve got to come to a Steelers game now.  If it’s cold, maybe sit in the box with Dan Rooney.’

            Saunders is the first winner of a no-roof title fight since Ezzard Charles-Jersey Joe Walcott at Forbes Field in 1951.

            Two judges scored the match for Saunders, Tony Tarantino, 97-94, and Paul Silverman 96-94 (the same as the Post-Gazette card).  Judge George Kachulis had it a draw 95-95.  To be sure, Saunders took the fight to Walton (19-5-2), winning the first three rounds and five of the first six.  Then came the seventh and those cramps.

            “First, my left leg cramped up, then my right one," Saunders said.

            He kept slipping on sweat on the tarp that served as a canvas.  Walton took advantage of his foe’s lack of legs and footing, appearing to win the final three rounds. Not bad for a guy who replaced a challenger who pulled out a week ago and had lost three of his past four fights.

            Walton, who has fought at heavyweight against such a recognizable foe as Michael Grant, didn’t have enough late to overcome Saunders’ early start.

            Saunders overcame a trying last few months. His life was threatened by a gunman standing at his driver-side window. (There was no bullet in the chamber, and three men were later arrested in that foiled contract killing.) He lost a hometown-decision to former International Boxing Federation cruiserweight world champ Imamu Mayfield in Philadelphia.

            “Mayfield is welcome to come get a shot at this,” Saunders said afterward, pointing out his NABC belt. “To Pittsburgh. In Heinz Field.”

            In the undercard, Homer City’s Scott Kelly won by decision against his old friend Scott Shippley in a four-round fight at 178 pounds; McKees Rocks’ Jose Caraballo won his pro debut against Chicago’s Ron Cabili at 140 pounds; Punxsutawney’s Jim Northey knocked out Michael Shanks of Kokomo, Ind.; at 1:12 of the first round at 195 pounds; and, at heavyweight, Penn Hills’ Rick Carter scored a first-round KO, at 1:39, against Edgar Myers of Kokomo, Ind.

            Because of lack state-mandated HIV tests by their opponents, Carnegie’s Rob Strauss and North Braddock’s Mario Acosta waged exhibition bouts.

            The Iron City City Pro Boxing series is scheduled to return to the Heinz Field patio Sept. 18, with Ghana-come Beaver County boxer Ray Narh slated to compete for an NABC belt.

            Chuck Finder can be reached at cfinder@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1724.