Larios wants Pacquiao’s hide

Oscar Larios, the hard-hitting Mexican holder of the WBC (World Boxing Council) crown, challenged Filipino IBF (International Boxing Federation) champion Manny Pacquiao to a unification bout for the super bantamweight title moments after scoring a 10th round TKO win over Napopol Kiattisakchocchoi at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles Saturday.

"I wanted to go to 126 pounds to fight (Marco Antonio) Barrera. But now that Pacquiao won, I want to face him so we can unify the titles at 122 pounds. I know that it will be a difficult fight because he hits hard, but I have the hunger to win," Larios said.

The 27-year-old native of Zapopan, Jalisco had been wanting a mega-fight against Barrera, who was once universally considered as the best featherweight in the world until Pacquiao whipped him last week in San Antonio.

That sensational 11th round TKO win over Barrera sent the Filipino champ into the elite circle of champions because he didn’t merely beat Barrera, but he demolished the Mexican legend.

In fact, the victory was so convincing that he joined James Toney, Ricardo Mayorga and Roy Jones Jr. as worthy candidates for Fighter of the Year award.

Now, Larios said he desires to slug it out with the new toast of the boxing world early next year instead.

And he dramatized this by thumping the No. 1 ranked Kiattisakchocchoi in 2:26 of the 10th round of their scheduled 12-round fight.

"Now, I want to fight Pacquiao," Larios said.

Larios methodically broke down the Thai fighter with his relentless attack, landing progressively more clean punches as the bout progressed. The challenger pressed forward, but was ineffective in catching the fleet-footed Larios, who picked Kiattisakchocchoi apart, then bludgeoned him to the deck in the 10th. Kiattisakchocchoi regained his feet but the bout was stopped by referee Marco Gonzalez shortly after.

The win raised Larios record to 51-3-1 with 36 KOs.

Larios has won 21 of his last 22 bouts, the lone loss on a controversial decision to Willie Jorrin.— Dante Navarro