NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Rios stopped John Murray in the 11th round, battering him against the ropes and forcing the referee to step in Saturday night.
Rios (29-0-1) dominated the latter rounds and finished off an exhausted Murray with a right uppercut and a left hook, a brutal ending to the undercard of the Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito bout at Madison Square Garden.
Rios had surrendered his WBA lightweight title when he failed to make the 135-pound weight Friday night. He could win the fight, just not the title.
That left Murray (31-2-0) with an opportunity to walk out of MSG the champion.
Murray’s nose and mouth were bashed open and he fought most of the 11 rounds with his face completely bloodied.
