MANILA, Philippines - Welterweight Dennis Laurente accomplished in the supporting cards, what boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao failed to inflict on bitter Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez in the main bout, knocking out Ghanaian Ayi Bruce last night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas (yesterday morning in Manila).
Pounding on his opponent with combinations to the head and body all night, Laurente delivered the coup de grace in the penultimate stanza of their eight-round encounter, a devastating straight left that hit Bruce on the chin and dropped him for good.
Referee Robert Bryce counted out the dazed Ghanaian and declared the Palombon, Leyte pride winner by KO at 57 seconds in the seventh .
Prior to the stoppage, the 34-year-old Laurente was winning on all judges’ scorecards, 59-55, 60-54, 60-54, reported boxing website Philboxing.com.
Laurente, who had Pacquiao’s friend and assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and Nonoy Neri in his corner, picked up his 41st overall victory and 22nd by KO against four losses and five draws.
Nicknamed “Bruce Lee,” Ghana’s Bruce suffered his second straight TKO setback for a 20-5 slate overall.
Laurente’s win made it two-for-two for Filipinos leading up to Pacquiao’s third showdown with Marquez that ended with the Pacman winning via split decision.
Fernando Lumacad of General Santos City opened the night with a unanimous decision over American Joseph Rios in a non-televised support fight.
According to Fightnews.com, Lumacad and Rios engaged in a closely contested battle but the Filipino boxer sent the American down twice, one in the second and another in the fifth, to eventually earn the nod of all three judges, 77-73, 77-74, and 78-72.
Lumacad improved to 25-3-3 while Rios dropped to 10-6-2.