ROSEMONT, Ill. – Challenger Agapito Sanchez, 37-9-2 (22 KOs), 122, Bronx, NY, stopped defending, and highly rated, Art Simonyan, 14-2-1 (7 KOs), 122, Armenia, to take the USBA 122 pound title in the fifth round of a scheduled 12.

Although Simonyan, 29, working behind straight and short punches, won a close opening round, Sanchez, 35, began regularly catching his foe with very wide right hands and left hooks in round two.

Simonyan had no real answer for what seemed to be repeated invitations to counters.

In round five, Sanchez unloaded a looping right hand to the chin of Simonyan dropping him flat. Although he was able to make it to his feet, he was clearly not fit to fight. The bout was stopped at 1:30 of the round.

* Hot prospect John Duddy, 11-0 (10 KOs), 157, Ireland, was impressive in knocking out tough journeyman Patrick Coleman, 29-12 (20 KOs), 156, San Diego, at 2:30 of the eighth and final round of their bout on the undercard. Duddy, 26, delivered tight left hooks and right hands against a very live Coleman. Both fighters were marked up going into the final round, but Duddy had built a shutout lead. Coming off the ropes, Duddy landed flush with a left hook, right hand combination to send Coleman crashing to the canvas. The referee stopped the bout instantly as it was obvious that Coleman could not continue.

J.E. Grant