Irvine Marriott Boxing : Thigpen Earns a TKO Over Garza in Main Card

Darryl Thigpen took control of his featherweight fight against Jaime Garza Monday night with a knockdown in the last 10 seconds of the second round.

He then knocked Garza down four more times before the fight was stopped 1:40 into the sixth round in front a sellout crowd of 1,420 at the Irvine Marriott.

After the fighters exchanged only a few punches in the first round, Garza (44-2) kept Thigpen (23-4) on the ropes most of the second round. But Thigpen was able to land a straight left that knocked Garza down and changed the fight’s complexion.

It was Thigpen’s 19th career knockout.

Garza, from San Fernando, started the third round strong. He soon had Thigpen trapped on the ropes for most of the round. Two minutes into the round, Garza connected with a combination that knocked down Thigpen, who sprang up immediately. The round ended with neither fighter landing another solid punch.

Thigpen established his left early in the fourth and was able to knock Garza down once more. He also knocked him down in the fifth.

Garza looked strong to start the sixth round, landing a series of rights but Thigpen caught him with a left off the ropes and Garza was down a fourth time.

“I underestimated his (Garza’s) power early,” Thigpen said. “After that I adjusted and fought my fight.”

Tony Chicone (163) of Orange won a unanimous six-round decision over Douglas Laws (166) of Los Angeles. Chicone is 8-4-1 and Laws is 3-2.

Roderick Starks (155) of Huntington Beach scored a unanimous six-round decision over Cliff Jackson (153) of San Diego. Starks is 8-7-3 and Jackson is 1-5-1.