Rigondeaux KOs Ramos in title bout, sets record

Rico Ramos didn't get much time to enjoy being world champion.

Making his first title defense, Ramos was knocked out in the sixth round by Guillermo Rigondeaux, who became the WBA super bantamweight champion Friday night at the Palms' Pearl Concert Theater.

The 31-year-old Rigondeaux (9-0) won the belt in his ninth professional fight, a record for fewest bouts en route to a world title, and handed Ramos his first defeat.

"I wanted to make history, and that's what I did," Rigondeaux said through an interpreter. "When I hit him with that body shot, I knew he wasn't getting up.

"I never thought it would be easy. Every fight is a tough fight. But I just did my job, and I'm very happy with my performance."

Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion, promised to start fast and threatened to knock off Ramos' head. He nearly did as he scored a first-round knockdown with a left to the chin. Ramos (20-1) survived the round but appeared off his game.

Ramos was struggling to deal with Rigondeaux's southpaw style and never initiated any offense. He was unwilling or unable to counter against the Cuban and was looking at an uphill battle as the scheduled 12-round fight went on.

Early in the sixth round, Rigondeaux appeared to have caught Ramos in the back of the head with a rabbit punch. After a few seconds, Ramos resumed the fight. Seconds later, Rigondeaux landed the biggest blow -- a left hook to the body that sent Ramos to the canvas.

Referee Joe Cortez counted out Ramos at 1:29. His reign as world champion, which began July 9, was over. For Ramos, it was a bitter disappointment.

"I needed a few more seconds to clear my head after that rabbit punch, but the ref said 'fight,' " the 24-year-old Ramos said. "He did catch me in the first round, but I thought I bounced back.

"He's tough. He's a true champion. But I'm also a true champion, and I'll bounce back. I'll be in the gym next week."

In the co-feature, super featherweight Joel Diaz survived a second-round knockdown to score a seventh-round technical knockout over Guy Robb in a scheduled eight-round bout. Diaz (7-0) knocked down Robb twice in the third round as Robb (7-2) showed courage while getting tagged often. He fought back and made it close. Robb landed a higher percentage of punches (34 percent to 33 percent) throughout.

But in the seventh round, a left to the head by Diaz followed by a couple of rights had Robb in trouble. Diaz pressed the attack, and referee Vic Drakulich decided Robb had had enough. The end came at 2:20 of the seventh.

Also on the undercard, Matt Villanueva scored a seventh-round TKO over Mike Ruiz Jr. in their scheduled eight-round super flyweight bout. Villanueva (7-0-1) knocked down Ruiz (8-2-1) in the second round and nearly had him down and out early in the seventh. He was unloading at will, and referee Russell Mora stepped in and stopped the bout at 1:04.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.