American Shane Mosley claimed the World Boxing Association's welterweight championship with a stunning ninth round demolition of Mexican Antonio Margarito on Saturday.
Five-time world champion Mosley backed Margarito in his own corner early in the ninth with a flurry of punches that caused Margarito's trainer to throw in the towel.
Mosley landed a short right that sent Margarito down and the referee stopped the fight in front of a crowd of 20,820 at the Staples Center arena.
Mosley, who struggled to make the weight on Friday, showed on Saturday that at 37 he is still a force in the welterweight division.
Mosley knocked Margarito down late in the eighth round with some devastating shots to the head. Margarito got up and stumbled backwards before the bell to end the round sounded.
Both fighters exchanges jabs in the first two rounds before things heated up in the third.
Mosley dominated throughout the next six rounds as he came into the fight with a clear game plan and stuck with it. Right from the opening bell he was able to slip inside Margarito's jab and land hard short punches.
In the final three rounds, Mosley loaded up with powerful overhand rights that snapped Margarito's head back.
{{/usCountry}}In the final three rounds, Mosley loaded up with powerful overhand rights that snapped Margarito's head back.
{{/usCountry}}He wasted no time figuring out Margarito who was unable to defend against the smaller but faster Mosley.
This was Margarito's first defence of his 147-pound title.