LOS ANGELES: Miguel Berchelt knocked fellow Mexican Miguel Román down three times en route to a ninth-round knockout to retain his World Boxing Council junior lightweight title on Saturday.
Berchelt defended his title for the fourth time in the main event of a boxing card at the Haskins Center arena in El Paso, Texas.
The 26-year-old Berchelt improved to 35-1 with 31 career knockouts while Román dropped to 60-13 overall.
Berchelt pounded Román at will in the eighth round before referee Jon Schorle stopped it with just two seconds to go in the ninth.
Román suffered a cut over his left eye in the eighth, and it was apparent he was running out of gas.
Berchelt roared out of his corner to start the ninth and landed a barrage of punches, eventually flooring Román with a combination.
The 32-year-old Román continued but Berchelt didn’t let up, forcing Schorle to step in and stop the onslaught late in the round.