Pirog flattens Jacobs; Guerrero tops Casamayor

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Robert Guerrero celebrates his victory over Joel Casamayor following their junior welterweight boxing match Saturday, July 31, 2010 in Las Vegas. Guerrero won by unanimous decision. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

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By GREG BEACHAM (AP)

LAS VEGAS — Unheralded Russian middleweight Dmitry Pirog stopped Daniel Jacobs with a crushing overhand right in the fifth round to win the vacant WBO title Saturday night.

Former featherweight champion Robert Guerrero dominated Joel Casamayor in a lopsided unanimous decision to win his debut at 140 pounds, and Jorge Linares also earned a comfortable unanimous decision over Rocky Juarez on the undercard of Juan Manuel Marquez's lightweight title rematch with Juan Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

After a solid amateur career, Pirog's U.S. debut was a stunning success. He stopped the favored Jacobs with one punch, putting the previously unbeaten Brooklyn prospect flat on his back.

Jacobs was angry after the fight, believing he could have kept going.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former featherweight champion Robert Guerrero dominated Joel Casamayor in a lopsided unanimous decision Saturday night, winning in his debut at 140 pounds.

Jorge Linares also earned a comfortable unanimous decision over Rocky Juarez on the undercard of Juan Manuel Marquez's lightweight title rematch with Juan Diaz at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Guerrero (27-1-1, 18 KOs) knocked down the former Cuban champion in the second round and barely let up afterward, cruising to his fourth straight victory with superior speed and power.

"I felt good, and I had a dominant performance," Guerrero said. "He's a lefty, and he's really crafty with a good counterpunch. He kept using his head and grabbing me to hold me down. He's a veteran, and he knows how to survive."

The 39-year-old Casamayor (37-5-1) managed to knock down the Bay Area fighter late in the final round with a sneaky right hook, but Guerrero appeared to be more surprised than hurt after his first taste of the canvas in his boxing career.

Two judges and The Associated Press scored it 98-89, and a third had it 97-90.

Guerrero is fighting with a clearer head in recent months with the improved health of his wife, Casey, whose leukemia is in remission after he surrendered his super featherweight belt to care for her.

The 27-year-old Guerrero's ascension has been delayed by his wife's disease and squabbles with his promoters, but the former featherweight champion appears primed to make an impact in the crowded 140-pound division if he stays there. Guerrero said he would prefer to fight the winner of Saturday night's main event, even going back down to 135 pounds to do it.

Casamayor, the Cuban Olympian-turned-defector who became a champion at 130 and 135 pounds, quickly realized he couldn't match Guerrero's speed. After referee Jay Nady penalized Casamayor for blatant holding in the second round, Guerrero rocked Casamayor late with a left hand and knocked him down moments later, leading to a 10-7 round.

"In the first two or three rounds I was a little confused, but I got my rhythm back," Casamayor said, dismissing any thought of retirement. "Robert is tall, so it was a little awkward. I was a little rusty, and I got my rhythm too late. I'll still fight anyone."

Linares (29-1, 18 KOs) largely dominated his lightweight fight with Juarez (28-7-1), the longtime title contender and U.S. Olympic silver medalist who has won just once in his last six fights.

Linares, a Venezuelan former two-division champion who fights out of Tokyo, lost his WBA 130-pound title to Juan Carlos Salgado on a first-round knockout last October. He appeared to be back in championship form at 135 pounds despite hurting his hand while knocking down Juarez with a fifth-round uppercut.

"When I dropped him, it hurt my left hand," Linares said. "I had to be really careful the whole fight because he's really dangerous, and he can really take a punch. I was never really tired, but I was always worrying about his experience."

Linares, who wants another title shot next, won 99-90 on two judges' cards and 97-92 on the other.

"I feel good, but he clearly won the fight," said Juarez, who infamously fell short in five straight shots at a title. "I just couldn't catch my rhythm. I couldn't do what I worked on in the gym. I don't know what's next. I'm seriously thinking about it."

Earlier, Sakio Bika was disqualified after knocking Jean-Paul Mendy unconscious with an uppercut while Mendy's knee appeared to be down on one knee.

Mendy (29-0-1) remained facedown on the canvas for several moments, eventually going to a hospital. Manager Gabriel Gaide said Mendy would be fine, and looked forward to fighting Lucian Bute for the IBF 168-pound title.

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