BOXING : Ex-Kick-Boxer Dorsey to Defend Title at Forum

Troy Dorsey, a converted kick-boxer who won a world boxing championship on his third try, will defend his title for the first time at the Forum tonight.

On June 3 in Las Vegas, Dorsey won the International Boxing Federation’s featherweight championship with one memorable punch. In the first round, he flattened Alfred Rangel with a short, jolting right hand.

Tonight, Dorsey (12-3-4) will fight challenger Manuel Medina (38-3) of Tijuana and hopes a victory will set him up for a big-money fight with Jeff Fenech in Australia this fall.

Dorsey-Medina puts the Forum back in the championship fight business for the first time in two months. It will be the Forum’s fourth 1991 title bout, but the first since May.

The 5-foot-6 Dorsey, from Mansfield, Tex., is believed to be the first U.S.-born kick-boxer to win a world boxing title. He beat Rangel on the Forum’s Thomas Hearns-Virgil Hill undercard at Caesars Palace. One-punch knockouts are unusual in weight classes below welterweight, but Dorsey left no doubt. After 2 minutes 37 seconds, he had a championship.

“I knew he (Rangel) used his left jab a lot, and I was looking to get in the right off his jab,” he said. “As it worked out, the right I got him with was the first one I threw in the fight. When I looked at him on the floor, I knew he wouldn’t get up.”

Dorsey failed in two previous tries at the IBF title. He lost a disputed decision to another Mexican, Jorge Paez, 17 months ago. Then, in a rematch five months later, the two fought to a draw.

Dorsey, who has 10 knockouts in his 12 victories, has beaten several noteworthy featherweights in recent years, including Anthony Boyle, who was unbeaten at the time, and No. 1 contender Harold Rhodes. He also stopped former champion Bernardo Pinango.

Medina is coming down from super-featherweight for his challenge tonight. Unlike Dorsey, Medina lacks punching power and will seek to out-box Dorsey.

Also on the Forum card tonight is a second featherweight feature, matching Louie Espinoza (41-4-2) of Phoenix and Jose Martinez (15-4-1) of Hanford, Calif.