Last Updated: Sun, 24 Jan 2010 12:14
Juan Manuel Lopez stopped champion Steven Luevano in the seventh round in New York on Saturday to claim the WBO featherweight title.
The former super-bantamweight belt holder had no problems stepping up a division to take the title from Luevano as he ended the contest with a harsh left hook.
Lopez had hurt Luevano earlier in the seventh round and managed to capitalise on the champion's vulnerability by raining in the blows as he had him struggling against the ropes before eventually putting him down. Luevano did get back on his feet before the count was out, but referee Benjy Esteves spared him further punishment and called a halt to the fight.
Afterwards Puerto Rican, Lopez, said: "We saw the video and we knew he would be there for me all night.
"I could feel I was landing it, and I was very surprised he took so many punches. He took a lot of punishment."