Mayweather Retains Title on Third-Round KO

It was the same old target.

Same old weapon.

Same old result.

World Boxing Council super-lightweight champion Roger Mayweather retained his title Thursday night at the Sports Arena before a crowd of 6,078 by knocking out challenger Mauricio Aceves 1:32 into the third round of their scheduled 12-round bout.

Mayweather seems to have made a career out of beating promising young Mexican fighters. So much so that he has been nicknamed the Mexican Assassin.

And always, it is Mayweather’s devastating right hand that does most of the damage.

That’s the way it was in November when Mayweather (31-5, 22 knockouts) KOd Rene Arredondo, sending him to the canvas three times en route to the WBC title.

And that’s the way it was Thursday night against Aceves (23-7) of Mexico City, who hadn’t lost since 1984. Aceves had won nine straight, eight by knockout.

But none of those credentials earned him much respect from Mayweather.

The Las Vegas-based fighter unleashed that notorious right in the first round and Aceves hit the deck. He got up quickly, but cautiously.

In the second round, Mayweather, 139 1/2, pushed the advantage, adding a left jab to his attack. He opened up a cut in the inner corner of the left eye of Aceves, 139 3/4.

Then in the third, Mayweather dropped the bomb, following up a jab with an overhand right that sent Aceves tumbling into the corner. He was seated in an upright position, but out cold as referee Chuck Hassett needlessly finished the count.

Long after Mayweather acknowledged the crowd, accepted the congratulations of his corner and faced the cameras, Aceves was still in that upright position, trying to figure just what city he was in. He was finally helped off by his handlers.

“He wasn’t the puncher I thought he was,” Mayweather said. “Once I saw he didn’t have the legs to get away, I took my time and put my punches together.”

So what’s next?

“We want (Hector) Camacho or (Julio Cesar) Chavez,” said Billy Baxter, Mayweather’s manager. “If we get Chavez (who has already beaten Mayweather), they’ll need Dodger Stadium to hold it.

“I know Aceves never got nothing started tonight, but he was a hell of a threat. The difference now is that Roger is fighting at 140 pounds.”

Mayweather has won all five fights he has had at that weight, all by knockout.

In a preliminary fight, San Fernando heavyweight Alex Garcia, 215, improved his record to 8-0 by scoring his fifth knockout victory.

Garcia knocked down Dennis Fikes, 194, of Las Vegas in the second round and then referee John Thomas stepped in to stop the bout 42 seconds into the third round of the scheduled six-rounder when Fikes (9-8-1) was unable to defend himself.