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.