Fernando Montiel insists he has put the past behind him after a stunning first-round KO of Ciso Morales saw him retain his WBO bantamweight title in Las Vegas at the weekend.
Montiel (40-2-2) had been considered fortunate against Alejandro Valdez to get a third-round technical draw in his last fight in September.
But with seven-time world champion Manny Pacquiao looking on from ringside, a two-shot combination to the body put Morales (14-1) down and the figtht was waved off after 2:06.
“I knew I hurt him, but I didn’t know if he was going to get back up,” said Montiel. “I knew I had to get inside because he was throwing the jab. I waited until he dropped his hands, and then I took advantage of my opportunity.
“I wanted to erase the memory of the last fight. I felt like I needed to look good and I did.”
On the same bill, Eric Morel claimed the WBO interim bantamweight belt after defeating Gerry Penalosa by split decision to set up a potential showdown with Montiel.
Judge Paul Smith had Morel ahead 115-112 and Dick Houck had it for Pe?alosa, 115-113, but Jerry Roth broke the deadlock, giving it to Morel, 116-112.
Pe?alosa (54-8-2) had suffered two cuts in the sixth round – one over his left eye, the other on his forehead, both the result of head butts.
Also in Las Vegas, Nonito Donaire had been scheduled to defend his WBA super-flyweight crown against Gerson Guerrero.
But when the Nevada Athletic Commission refused to clear Guerrero to fight because he failed an eye exam, he was replaced by Manuel Vargas (26-5-1).
With his belt not at risk, Donaire (23-1) pproduced a huge left hook midway through the third round that sent Vargas down, and referee Joe Cortez counted out the Mexican challenger at 1:33.
“It didn’t matter who I was fighting,” Donaire said. “I was able to figure [Vargas] out early, and I knew in the first round I was feeling my power.
“At that point, it was just a matter of relaxing and not being careless.”
