Joppy easily defends WBA middleweight title

Ralph D. Russo

Sunday, May 21, 2000 | 10:58 a.m.

TUNICA, Miss. - William Joppy successfully defended his WBA middleweight title Saturday night, stopping No. 1 contender Rito Ruvalcaba in the first round.

"I thought it was going to be a much tougher fight," Joppy said. "I felt the power in his jab. I did not expect such an easy fight."

Joppy, who improved to 30-1-1 with his 23 knockout, had no problem getting inside on Ruvalcaba, who at 6-foot-3, held a 5-inch height advantage and 4-inch reach advantage.

Joppy quickly moved in underneath Ruvalcaba's jabs and landed three overhand rights to the head that sent the challenger moving back each time.

A sharp left hand from Joppy proved to be the finishing blow for Ruvalcaba. Referee Fred Steinwinder jumped in with Ruvalcaba being held up by the ropes at 1:53 of the round.

"I'm still stunned," Ruvalcaba said. "He surprised me. I still can't believe what happened."

Ruvalcaba, 155 3/4 , (27-3, 24 KOs) from Mexico was fighting for a title for the first time in his career.

Joppy, 157 1/4 , of Seabrook, Md., was making his third title defense since winning the belt in January of 1998 from Julio Cesar Green.

It was the sixth first-round knockout for Joppy.

Joppy had struggled in his last fight, an unimpressive 10-round decision over Fernando Zuniga in March.

Zuniga was a late replacement for Ruvalcaba, who pulled out because of tonsillitis.

On the undercard, Julio Gamboa (24-4-1) of Nicaragua and Felix Machado (18-3-1) of Venezuela fought to a draw for the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title.