Valero Knocks Out Lozada in 72 Seconds

VENEZUELA'S Edwin Valero stretched his world knockout record to 21 by beating Michael Lozada of Mexico to defend the World Boxing Association (WBA) super featherweight title.

Valero needed only one minute and 12 seconds in the first round to pull off a technical knockout.

"I fired a thundering left straight. But I tell you the truth, I wanted to have more experience by fighting more rounds," said Valero, who belongs to a Japanese gym.

It was his first defence of the title he wrested from Vincente Mosquera, of Panama, with a technical knockout in August last year.

The 25-year-old Valero - who also holds a world consecutive knockout record for first-round KOs - continued his unbeaten professional record since his debut in July 2002 to 21 straight wins, all of them KOs.

Lozada, ranked 12th in the WBA, saw his record reduced to 20 wins, including 13 KOs, against four defeats and a draw.