WBA lightweight champion Miguel Acosta of Venezuela is treated in his corner between rounds during their title fight with Brandon Rios of Oxnard, Calif., on Saturday at the Palms.
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011 | 11:06 p.m.
Brandon Rios knocked out Miguel Acosta in the 10th round with a flurry of punches near his opponent’s corner to win the WBA lightweight title on Saturday night at the Palms.
Rios landed several blows without seeing any defense before finally crumpling Acosta with a right cross at 1:14 of the tenth round. The Venezuelan’s corner men immediately reached through the ropes to support him as referee Joe Cortez stopped the fight.
“I told my dad when I was a child that I wanted to be a world champion,” Rios said after he was hoisted onto the shoulders of his cornermen. “Now look at me!”
Rios (27-0-1, 20 KOs) has won nine straight since fighting to a draw against Manuel Perez in October 2008. Acosta (28-4-2) lost for the first time in 20 fights.
Acosta was actually leading the fight through the first few rounds, quicker to the punch and stringing together combinations. Rios had trouble finding his range until the sixth round, when a sharp jab put Acosta down on the canvas for the first time in the fight.
“I was hurt early. He hit me with some good shots,” Rios said. “He is a powerful fighter, but I never quit and stuck in there. I’m a real warrior.”
Rios didn’t let up after the sixth round, putting Acosta down against in the eighth with a left hook, before unloading on him in the 10th round and finally ending the fight.
“I’m very sad and disappointed because I truly thought I would win,” Acosta said. “Rios is very strong and I prepared for that but his power surprised me.”
On the undercard, highly touted featherweight prospect Roberto Marroquin remained undefeated by beating Gilberto Sanchez Leon. Also winning were prospects Mike Lee and Jesse Magdaleno.
The Pearl is the Palms premier concert venue, hosting some of the most legendary and popular names in entertainment.
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