Hit-man Hopkins downs De La Hoya

OSCAR DE LA HOYA thought he could trade punches with a bigger and stronger fighter. Bernard Hopkins made him pay for his mistake with two body shots that left the challenger pounding his gloves on the canvas in bitter frustration at a career opportunity lost.

Hopkins stopped De La Hoya with a pair of perfectly placed punches in the ninth round on Saturday night to retain his undisputed middleweight titles in perhaps the richest non-heavyweight fight.

The fight ended at 1:38 of the ninth with De La Hoya writhing in pain on the canvas, his goal of beating the fearsome middleweight champion crushed with shocking suddenness.