Shane Mosley knocked Antonio Margarito out for the first time in his career to win the WBA welterweight title.
'Sugar' Shane strips champ of belt with stunning showing
'Sugar' Shane Mosley knocked Antonio Margarito out for the first time in his career in the ninth round on Saturday to win the WBA welterweight title.
Champion Margarito was a red-hot favourite for the bout having beaten Miguel Cotto to claim the strap in his previous fight, but Mosley rolled back the years to dominate from the first bell.
The 37-year-old used his superior speed from the beginning, and Margarito never looked comfortable.
Mosley was already well ahead on the judges' scorecards when he rocked the Mexican in the eighth and put his opponent onto the canvas with a flurry of punches.
A stunned Margarito beat the count, but Mosley continued to force the action in the ninth, and finally Margarito's corner threw in the towel when the fighter was unable to defend himself.
In that ninth round Mosley landed 21 punches and Margarito none.
Mosley was very clear as to what had won him the fight.
"It was my strategy, my focus, my game plan. It was a tough fight, but it was a great plan. It was my left hook. I caught (Fernando) Vargas with it, I caught (Richardo) Mayorga with it.
"Margarito is a tough fighter, he had a lot of endurance. I prepared very hard, I trained hard. He was very powerful, but he couldn't resist my rhythm," he said.
Margarito was left to reflect on a demoralising defeat and added "I feel OK. I was just getting caught over and over."
