Las Vegas: Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao became the first Asian to win four world titles after picking up the coveted World Boxing Council lightweight championship on Saturday night.
Packing five new pounds of power in his usual stunning hand speed, Pacquiao won a title belt in his fourth weight class by stopping David Diaz in the ninth round at the match held in the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
"I feel much, much stronger and more powerful at 135," said Pacquiao. "This is where I plan to stay. I did real well. I was really surprised it wasn't stopped sooner."
Pacquiao started his career as a teenage boxer at a mere 106 pounds but has since evolved into a dominant fighter in five divisions.
His lightweight debut was every bit as action-packed as his long history of brawls at lower weights -- and like most of his opponents, Diaz couldn't match Pacquiao's ferocious pace.
The Filipino came out on top throughout, landing right hooks, uppercuts and straight left hands while frustrating the defending champion with his quick and elusive movements to garner a record 47-3-2 (36 KOs).
Diaz, who was remarkably tenacious in the face of nonstop attacks, fell to 34-2-1 (17 KOs) as Pacquiao sneaked home a left hand that dropped Diaz's bloody face to the canvas.
“It was his speed," Diaz said. "It was all his speed. He boxed much more than I thought he would."
