Canada?s Steve ?The Dragon? Claggett (15-1-1, 10 KOs) made a very impressive American debut headlining Thompson Boxing Promotions? ?New Blood? card when he battered local favourite and highly regarded Californian Ricky Duenas (12-2, 6 KOs), stopping him after four rounds moments ago in Ontario, CA. Claggett started out controlling the action with his jab but was dropped by a sneaky straight left from Duenas in the opening round. Claggett collected himself well and was very poised as he went back to work. In Round 2 the 23-year old Canadian dropped Duenas hard with a huge straight right hand that turned the tide of the exciting fight in an instant. It was high drama in LA and the fans loved every minute.
Duenas was saved by the bell after getting dropped in the second and Claggett jumped on him in the third. The Los Angeles fighter showed tremendous resolve to recover from the big knockdown and ended the third firing back well.
In Round 4 the action picked up and both fighters traded in the centre of the ring with neither man willing to back down. It was all action but ?The Dragon? found his man?s timing and seemed in control once he had that down.
In the closing moments of the fourth Claggett landed another huge right that dropped Duenas again. While he showed heart to rise he was pinned along the ropes and saved by the bell once again.
Just as the bell rang to end the fourth Duenas?s corner called he referee and elected to retire their fighter before the start of the fifth giving Claggett the impressive and dramatic stoppage win.
?I wasn?t hurt in the first round when he dropped me,? Claggett said post fight to Boxingscene.com?s Francisco Salazar. ?He did catch me clean but I cleared my head and told my self I wasn?t going to lose this fight.?
?I found his timing with my right and took my time. When I dropped him both times I knew he was tough and I just wanted to keep the pressure on him when he got up. I knew he wouldn?t stay down and I just had to keep the pressure on until it was stopped.?
