Bernard Hopkins retained his undisputed middleweight crown in Las Vegas last night by knocking out fellow American Oscar de la Hoya in the ninth round of their title fight.
Hopkins, already owner of the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation titles, added De la Hoya's lightly regarded World Boxing Organization title to his list.
Hopkins was ahead on two of the three judges' cards when he connected with a big left to De la Hoya's stomach, sending his popular rival crashing to the canvas. De la Hoya was unable to get up before the referee's ten count and with 1min 38sec of the ninth round gone, the fight was over.
De la Hoya just shaded the opening two rounds behind his fast left jab but Hopkins found his rhythm is the third, shaking his opponent with several strong rights.
The fighters shared the middle rounds, but as the fight wore on, Hopkins' punching power wore down De la Hoya and when the end came in the ninth round, it was no huge surprise.
Afterwards Hopkins said: "I wanted to show everybody that I could box It was always the plan to come in light to give me extra speed while retaining my power. I knew I could outbox him and I think I did."
"He was a crafty little son-of-a-gun. He was slipping and moving around and holding me just long enough. But I kept setting him up with the jab and then I connected with a great left to the liver, a perfect body shot. I heard him go 'Urgh' as the wind came out of him," he added.
Filed by Rob Wright
