BOXING ROUNDUP : Hill Stops Kinchen in First Round

Virgil Hill retained his World Boxing Assn. light-heavyweight title and remained undefeated Tuesday night, stopping veteran James Kinchen at 2 minutes 52 seconds of the first round at Bismarck, N.D.

Hill caught Kinchen with a hard left hook to the head in the challenger’s corner. Kinchen staggered and Hill quickly pounced on the opportunity with a flurry of combinations, knocking Kinchen through the ropes and onto the apron of the ring.

Kinchen struggled back into the ring and to his feet, but referee Billy Yoham of Miami, after looking into Kinchen’s eyes, signaled the end of the bout.

“I looked at his eyes and they weren’t focusing,” Yoham said. “I could tell he wasn’t ready to continue boxing.”

It was Hill’s seventh defense of his WBA title, which he won in 1987 from Leslie Stewart.

“Once I got him in the corner, he couldn’t go anywhere,” said Hill, who raised his record to 26-0. “I think he was unable to slide down the ropes, and as a result he stood straight up . . . and he got caught.”

It was Kinchen’s first loss as a light-heavyweight in 28 fights over a nine-year career. He has also fought as a middleweight and super-middleweight.

Undefeated Jeff Harding of Australia retained the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight title when Englishman Tom Collins quit after the second round, sparking angry scenes among the crowd at Brisbane, Australia.

Harding (16-0) pummeled Collins (24-16-1) relentlessly in both rounds, but there didn’t appear to be any reason for the challenger’s retirement. Ringside doctor Lou Lewis confirmed Collins did not appear to be seriously hurt.

WBC supervisor Edward Thangarajah of Thailand said he was withholding Collins’ purse of $25,000. Thangarajah said he would recommend that Collins be stripped of the money and said an inquiry would be held.

Harding sent the ring-worn Collins to the floor with a short right hand to the head in the first round. Collins came out swinging wildly in the second round, but quit on his stool after his assault failed.

Co-promoter Bob Arum called Collins’ actions “a disgrace.”

Heavyweight Alex Garcia of San Fernando won a lackluster 10-round decision over Eddie Gonzalez of Houston in the main event at the Country Club in Reseda.

Garcia (13-1), a former national super heavyweight amateur champion, never hurt Gonzalez (25-8-1), who has fought most of his pro bouts as a light heavyweight.