Rising star Andre Berto claimed the WBC Welterweight title by stopping Mexican Miguel 'Mikki' Rodriguez in Memphis.
American takes over as champion following Pretty Boy's retirement
Rising star Andre Berto claimed the WBC Welterweight title by stopping Mexican Miguel 'Mikki' Rodriguez in Memphis.
The American knocked his opponent down twice in the seventh before the referee decided enough was enough with 47 seconds left in the round.
Victory means the 24-year-old takes over as champion from Floyd Mayweather, who announced his retirement earlier this month, after just 22 fights as a professional.
"I'm really excited right now," Berto said afterwards. "It's an unbelievable feeling at age 24 that I'm now the world champion."
Signed
"When this fight was first signed, it was just supposed to be an eliminator. Now that Floyd has retired, I'm very happy to be at the top of the WBC."
Rodriguez - who himself had lost only twice in 31 fights - did his best to end Berto's four-year unbeaten run, trading punches in the early rounds.
However, as the fight wore on Berto began to find the mark with his power punches and a right uppercut in the seventh signalled the beginning of the end.
The Mexican fell to the canvas from the crunching blow and although he managed to get back on his feet, two chopping rights sent him down again.
