Petalcorin Lights Up Ming For 1st Round Knockout

Any designs Ma Yi Ming had on becoming the second-ever fighter from China to win a major title were vanquished in the blink of an eye. Randy Petalcorin showed no fear in fighting on the road, scoring three knockdowns en route to a 1st round knockout Friday evening in Beijing, China. 

The fight never had a chance of being competitive as Petalcorin raced off his stool to take the fight to the local favorite. Ming was floored approximately 40 seconds into the opening round of the evening's main event, and never seemingly recovered. 

Two more knockdowns followed before referee Raul Caiz Jr. was forced to stop the contest at roughly 1:45 of round one.

Petalcorin heads back to Philippines with his record now at 23-1-1 (18KOs). The bout was his fourth straight on the road and second consecutive trip to China. The 23-year old southpaw stopped Walter Tello in seven rounds last August to pick up a secondary title in the 108 lb. division, which he defended for the first time on Friday.

Ming's nine-fight win streak comes to a close as he falls to 12-6 (7KOs). A 10-round win over Tommy Seran last December put the 34-year old southpaw in line to challenge Petalcorin, but figures to be his first, last and only opportunity at the title level. 

To date, Xiong Zhao Zhong remains the only fighter from China to ever claim a major title when he won a strawweight belt in 2012. The nation's first ever Olympic boxing medalist, Zou Shiming - who won Olympic Gold medals at home in 2008 at home in Beijing and 2012 in London - fell short in his bid to win a flyweight belt earlier this year, dropping a competitive but clear decision to the excellent Amnat Ruenroeng this past March.

The bout aired live on CCTV in China, and streamed live on LETV.com.