adminWASHINGTON. — Undefeated Shawn Porter stopped former world champion Paulie Malignaggi in the fourth round on Saturday night to retain his International Boxing Federation welterweight crown.
Porter improved to 24-0 with one draw by hammering Malignaggi before the all-American showdown was stopped 74 seconds into the fourth round, his 15th triumph inside the distance.
“I definitely needed this victory,” Porter said. “To get it like that, to beat this guy, meant a lot.”
Malignaggi (33) fell to 33-6 in what might have been his final career bout.
“A really great fighter beat me,” said Malignaggi. “If this is my last fight, I lost to a great champion.”
In another world title fight, Unbeaten Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin kept his World Boxing Organization middleweight title with a unanimous decision triumph over Czech Lukas Konecny. Both fights were on the under-card of the light-heavyweight unification bout between Bernard Hopkins and Beibut Shumenov.
Porter (26) made the first defence of the title he took from countryman Devon Alexander last December.
“I knew everything he was coming with,” Porter said. “He asked some questions and I got the job done.”
Porter stunned Malignaggi in round two, bloodying his nose during a furious exchange in the centre of the ring and later staggering him with a hard left to the head that Porter followed with a series of blows against the ropes that left “The Magic Man” lucky to escape the round.
In the early seconds of the fourth round, Porter sent Malignaggi to the canvas with two hard rights and a left, then moments later landed a pair of staggering rights that sent Malignaggi up against the ropes.
From there, Porter landed punches at will until referee Sam Williams stopped the punishment. — AFP.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter