Boxing: TACKIE Wins

Ben Tackie of Ghana was trailing badly when he unleashed a savage left hook early in the 10th round to stop former IBF Junior Lightweight Champion Roberto Garcia.

Garcia dominated the lightweight fight with sharp combinations and seemed well in control when Tackie (20-1, 12 knockouts) caught him with an overhand right in the ninth round to score the first knockdown of the fight.

Garcia, of Oxnard, Calif, came back to land well at the end of the round, but he made the mistake of trying to trade punches with Tackie in the final round and Tackie caught him with a left hook that sent Garcia sprawling to the canvas on his back.

Garcia (32-2) got up but was bleeding and wobbly and referee Richard Steele stopped the fight at 35 seconds of the 10th round.

From BW SportsWire

Tackie (20-1, 12 KOs), of Los Angeles by way of Accra, Ghana, was trailing by 87-83 on all the judges' scorecards entering the 10th round, but he connected with a right followed by a left hook that sent Garcia crashing to the canvas. Referee Richard Steele stepped in and stopped the bout shortly thereafter. Tackie also dropped Garcia with a chopping right hand in the ninth. It was Tackie's second consecutive upset victory over a world-ranked boxer. On March 19, 2000, the former IBF Intercontinental and IBA Continental 135-pound champion captured a 10-round decision over Golden Johnson in Miami. Tackie's only loss came against former WBC featherweight champion Gregorio ``Goyo'' Vargas on Jan. 16, 1999. Garcia (32-2, 24 KOs), of Oxnard, California, was making his lightweight debut and first start since being dethroned by Diego ``Chico'' Morales on Oct. 23, 1999. Garcia, 136, had won the first five rounds on all three ringside judges' scorecards and was up four points going inside into the last round, only needing to survive the round to win.

"My corner told me to come out and box and fight smart," Garcia said of his strategy for the final round. "But I'm a warrior. I made a mistake, but things happen like that in boxing."

It was the second knockout loss in a row for Garcia, who had been undefeated until he lost his 130-pound title last October to Diego Corrales.