LAS VEGAS (AP) -Juan Diaz successfully defended his WBA lightweight title Saturday, methodically stopping Randy Suico in the ninth round on the undercard of Shane Mosley’s rematch with Fernando Vargas.
Daniel Ponce De Leon, the WBO junior featherweight champion, also kept his title with a stunning first-round knockout of Sod Looknongyangtoy, leaving the Thai fighter motionless and face-down on the canvas with a right-left combination in the opening minute.
Diaz (30-0, 15 KOs), the Houston native making his fifth title defense, moved adeptly and distributed patient punishment in just his third fight since January 2005. He had a nine-month layoff caused by injuries and business problems before his unanimous victory over Jose Miguel Cotto in April.
Referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight after the last of the Baby Bull’s countless combinations to Suico’s head.
“Suico was very tough,” Diaz said. “He came to take my title, and he was very strong. He came out punching from the opening bell.”
Suico (24-3) threw 840 punches but connected with just 15 percent, while Diaz landed 65 percent of his blows. Suico absorbed plenty of punishment, but Diaz’s lack of devastating punching power allowed the Filipino fighter to hang around for most of nine rounds.
Suico was knocked out for the first time in his career, showing even less power than Diaz. He was a late replacement on the card for Lakva Sim, who was beaten by Diaz in July 2004 to claim the WBA title.
In the final bout before the rematch of Mosley’s 10-round victory over Vargas, Mexico’s Ponce De Leon made incredibly quick work of Looknongyangtoy in a rematch of Ponce De Leon’s tough 12-round decision last October.
When Looknongyangtoy dropped his right hand, Ponce De Leon landed a left that rendered the Thai fighter unconscious 52 seconds into the opening round.
“I was working on that punch all throughout training camp,” Ponce De Leon said. “I knew he was susceptible for it, and it came through for me tonight. I feel I just keep getting better, and for the next couple of years, you can count on me.”
While Ponce De Leon jumped on the ropes in celebration, Looknongyangtoy was revived by his cornermen – and he was more embarrassed than injured after coming to his senses.
“I threw a punch and missed, and I got caught,” Looknongyangtoy said. “I never saw it coming. I’m OK.”
Rock Allen, a U.S. Olympian in 2004, improved to 9-0 with a unanimous decision over Henry Mitchell in a junior welterweight fight.
