Unbeaten Felix Trinidad of Puerto Rico stopped Senegal-born Frenchman Mamadou Thiam in the third round, Saturday, to retain the World Boxing Association super welterweight championship.
Trinidad rose to 38-0 with his 31st early stoppage when referee Jorge Alonso halted the fight two minutes and 48 seconds into the third round.
European champion and top-ranked contender Thiam fell to 33-2, the victim in Trinidad's first title defense in the super welterweight division.
"Tito" swelled Thiam's right eye during a flurry midway through the first round and the lack of vision dimmed the Frenchman's hopes for an upset.
"I took advantage of the opportunity I had in the first round," Trinidad said. "I closed his eye at the end of the first round. Because of my condition, I could do this. My conditioning is very good."
Typically a slow starter, Trinidad landed a left uppercut and left hook to stun Thiam, then hit the challenger with a pair of solid rights that back wobbled Thiam into the ropes, where a barrage of punches ensued.
Thiam answered in round two with a solid right that stunned Trinidad, but Thiam's trouble seeing the Puerto Rican's trademark left-hand punches through his swollen right eye proved costly at the end of round two.
Round two continued the pattern until Thiam turned away from Trinidad and, walked to Alonso and quit the fight.
Thiam struggled to exit the ring and quickly left the Arena for Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment on his eye as well as a possible concussion.
Neither Thiam, nor any members of his ringside support staff, attended a post-fight news conference.
Trinidad made $2.5m for the fight. Thiam received $200,000 - (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
