BOBBY Pacquiao showed fans at the storied Madison Square Garden in New York that the “other Pacquiao” also has power as he knocked out American Kevin Kelley in the fourth round to retain his World Boxing Council Continental Americas super-featherweight crown.
Pacquiao, whose older brother Manny’s win against Erik Morales had the entire country at a standstill, improved to 27-11-3, with 12 KOs, while the 38-year-old Kelley dropped to 58-7-2, with 39 KOs.
The win was a big boost to his career after coming off a controversial win in his previous fight against Famoso Hernandez.
Pacquiao, 26, is now managed by his brother Manny, Cebuano boxing patron Wakee Salud and US-based Shelly Finkel. His noted trainer Freddie Roach, Buboy Fernandez and Mike Koncz were at his corner.
The fight ended at 1:24 of the fourth round before a crowd 14,369. Kelley was down for a four-count when the bell sounded to end the third round after he took a hard left to the chin. Another hard left, this one to the body, sent the former titleholder to the canvas in the fourth.
“I lost my focus… I lost my focus,” 15rounds.com quoted Kelley telling his corners in between rounds.
Even after he was counted out by referee Steve Willis, the 38-year-old Kelley – obviously in pain – remained on his knees for almost two minutes. He was knocked out for the fifth time in his seven losses.
“Bobby followed our strategy all the way,” Mike Koncz, Pacquaio’s trainer, said. “We wanted him to go to the body the first three rounds and then take it from there. Everything worked out.”
