By Mark Vester

If there one remarkable performance on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, it came from Dmitry Pirog (17-0, 14KOs) of Russia, who stopped Daniel Jacobs with a single right hand in fifth round to capture the WBO middleweight title. Priog said none of Jacobs' punches had a lot of power behind them. He saw Jacobs wobble in the second round and knew he could hurt him again.

"I'm very happy and thankful I'm taking this belt back to my fans in Russia," Pirog said. "Danny punched very quickly and sharply, but I didn't feel much from him. I hurt him in the second round, and I knew I could come back and do it again."

Jacobs said he never saw the right hand that put him on his back. He was hit, the lights briefly went out and the fight was over. Jacobs said his camp and mental state was affected by last week's passing of his grandmother.

"Everything happened so fast," Jacobs said. "I got caught with a shot I didn't even see. ... I'm not going to complain. I just hope everyone will forgive me and keep the faith. I know I can come back and become a champ. I think if I was at 100 percent, I would have done a little better. It's just one of those things that happens."

Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com