Hill Stops Featherstone in 10th to Retain His Title

Virgil Hill retained his World Boxing Assn. light-heavyweight title Friday night when he stopped Willie Featherstone of Canada at 2:05 of the 10th round in a scheduled 12-round bout.

Hill, 24, a 1984 Olympic silver medalist, improved to 23-0 with 14 knockouts.

Featherstone, the Commonwealth champion from Toronto, came into the fight a 3-1 underdog. He fell to 20-4 with 11 knockouts in his first fight in the United States.

It was a one-sided bout which ended when Hill, the hometown hero, connected with a solid right uppercut on the chin that sent Featherstone reeling across the ring and hanging onto the ropes to remain standing.

Referee Steve Smoger jumped in and waved the fight over at 2:05 into the 10th round.

“I can’t take anything away from Willie,” Hill said. “He was a game opponent.”

Featherstone, 29, said: “He was faster than I thought. I tightened up more than I thought I would.”

Featherstone has had career-threatening problems in the past.

A motorcycle accident 6 1/2 years ago broke both kneecaps and severely damaged his back. It took a year of therapy after he left the hospital before Featherstone could return to the ring.