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Trinidad batters Thiam Champ defends WBA super welterweight belt
MIAMI (AP) -- Felix Trinidad wants Fernando Vargas next. Trinidad pounded mandatory contender Mamadou Thiam into submission Saturday night with a third-round TKO, successfully defending his WBA super welterweight title and providing a stunning tuneup for a probable Dec. 2 matchup with Vargas, the IBF super-middleweight. Thiam, his right eye swollen, quit with 12 seconds left in the third round before a heavily pro-Trinidad crowd at American Airlines Arena. "It was a hard fight. It feels great to win for my country," said Trinidad, from Puerto Rico. Trinidad improved to 38-0 with his 31st knockout, while Thiam dropped to 33-2. "I knew he would be well-prepared," said a gracious Trinidad, "but I knew I was going to win anyhow." Trinidad and promoter Don King both said all that's needed for a Trinidad-Vargas meeting in Las Vegas is Vargas' signature. "We're looking forward to Dec. 2 with great anticipation," King said. Trinidad landed 55 percent (96 of 175) of his punches, while Thiam landed 25 percent (34 of 136). Trinidad landed 72 of 118 power shots. Trinidad stung the French challenger with a left hook and an uppercut in the first round, sending Thiam to the ropes. Trinidad unleashed a seven-punch combination as Thiam staggered away. By the end of the round, Thiam's right eye was closed and Trinidad made the overmatched No. 1 contender look slow. Thiam attacked Trinidad in the second as both men went toe to toe. Thiam connected with a couple of left hooks in the round but exited his corner to start the third nearly blind from the cut. "Tito was a technician tonight," King said. "He was mean." Thiam, the European 154-pound champion, struggled to leave the ring but walked to the locker room without help. He was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital with a possible concussion. He did not attend the post-fight news conference. Trinidad used his left hand with amazing efficiency. His first-round left uppercut was the punch of the night, and he took advantage of Thiam's right eye by consistently landing left hooks and jabs to Thiam's head. Unlike previous victories against Oscar de la Hoya and David Reid, Trinidad came out aggressively and pounced on the beleaguered Thiam early. It was Trinidad's quickest victory since his first-round knockout of super-welterweight Troy Waters on Aug. 23, 1997. It was a mandatory defense for Trinidad, who completed his first defense of the WBA 154-pound belt he won from Reid. Trinidad reportedly earned $2.5 million, while Thiam made $200,000. The full upper bowl of the arena, where tickets sold for $15, $30, and $45, was filled with fans waving Puerto Rican flags and produced a deafening roar when the island's hero was introduced. Trinidad's team then unfurled a flag on stage as he strolled into the ring led by trainer and father Felix Sr.
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