Undisputed world light heavyweight champion Roy Jones Jnr stopped fellow American Derrick Harmon with a technical knockout after 10 rounds in Tampa, Florida, yesterday to retain his title.
Jones rose to a 44-1 record with his 36th early stoppage while Harmon, who suffered a broken left eardrum and was hospitalised after the bout, fell to 20-2 before a crowd of 14,223.
"He was up against something that comes along once in a lifetime and he went down," said Jones. "Every time I saw the guy and he looked scared, I would turn that pressure knob and turn on the pressure."
Jones used overwhelming hand speed to full advantage, keeping Harmon at bay to win every round on each judge's scorecard before the fight was halted.
Harmon, the seventh southpaw opponent in Jones's past eight fights, stopped before the 11th round began when his corner discovered the broken eardum, shattered in a head punch from the champion.
"Derrick Harmon is not a loser," Jones said. "He did not want to lose. He gave all he had. But he came up against me. I just wanted to beat him, not knock him out. A win is a win is a win." AFP