Sunday 6 March 2016 07:58, UK
Luis Ortiz continued his climb up the heavyweight rankings by knocking out Tony Thompson in Washington on Saturday night.
Ortiz, an unbeaten Cuban, is the WBA interim heavyweight champion and had no problems beating the veteran Thompson, who he knocked down twice before finishing off in the sixth.
Thompson, 44, had only been stopped twice before in his career, both times by former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, but has now lost four of his last six fights.
Ortiz is 36 himself but has triumphed in all 25 of his fights as a pro and is part of the new breed of heavyweights who have emerged in recent years.
On the night Lucas Browne had become Australia's first ever world heavyweight champion, Ortiz looked eager to impress, and he sent Thompson to the canvas in the opening round with an overhand left.
The fight was a very one-sided affair, with Thompson seemingly unable to hurt Ortiz with his jabs and right hooks, while he was hit regularly himself.
And he went down again in the third round when Ortiz produced another left to the head of his opponent.
Thompson bravely continued but he was felled again midway through the sixth and, apparently struggling with a knee injury, he was unable to get back up.
Ortiz is eager to face the top fighters in the division and said: "I'm hungry and ready for any champion. Let's do it.
"I'm a serious guy. Boxing is my job, my passion and I'm committed 100 percent.
"I work, I train, I spend time with my family. That's all I do.
"I look to destroy my opponent in the ring and let my fists do the talking."
It was a chastening night for Thompson, a two-time world title challenger, who said: "He is strong as advertised.
"It's sad that my hometown got to see me at the end of my career, versus at the peak of my career.
"I just think it would have been a much better fight with prime Tony Thompson, but the guy is as strong as a monster. Thanks to all the fans that came to support."
