Casamayor stays unbeaten

Casamayor stays unbeaten

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP): Unbeaten Joel Casamayor kept his World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight title here Saturday, stopping American Roberto Garcia in the ninth round and improving his record to 25-0.

The Cuban-born champion sent Garcia, who fell to 33-3, to the canvas twice in the final seconds before the fight was halted 1:14 into the ninth round.

It was the 15th early stoppage for Casamayor, making his second successful defense of the crown he won last May.

"This proves one more time I'm the best 130-pounder in the world," Casamayor said. "I'm ready for anybody in the world."

Brazil's Acelino Freitas is Casamayor's likely next opponent, although World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Floyd Mayweather said he wants to face Casamayor if he wins an all-American Jan. 20 title showdown with Diego Corrales.

"It's a hard fight for both guys," Casamayor said. "I will fight either of them."

Garcia staggered Casamayor in the fifth but the champion opened the sixth with a series of punishing lefts to weaken the challenger.

Even though Casamayor, now living in Miami, was penalized a point for hitting behind the head, the message was sent that momentum had changed.

"I was doing what the corner was saying, make him move and after four or five rounds, take over," Casamayor said. "In the sixth I came out and had him hurt. When I lost the point I was very unhappy. He was holding. But I lost the point."

As a result, judges had the fight scored even when the ninth round began, one seeing a 76-76 draw, another having Garcia up 76-74 and a third having Casamayor ahead 77-74.

Casamayor knocked down Garcia 40 seconds into ninth with a hard left that left the challenger stumbling back and landing on his rear. A left to the head and another to the jaw sent him down for the second and final time.