Mexico’s Marcos Cardenas was supposed to serve as a tough challenge for undefeated featherweight Dave Peñalosa.
Cardenas appeared to be good as advertised until Peñalosa decided to pour it on en route to a fourth round stoppage to win the vacant WBO Oriental featherweight title in the main event of ESPN5’s fight card.
“All my hard work bore fruit after winning the title,” Peñalosa, who had trouble making weight but showed no effects of it throughout the bout, said in Filipino.
“I just wanted to be patient. I’m happy that he showed a good fight and the fans were not disappointed.”
Peñalosa, son of former two-time world champion Dodie Boy, was in his usual relentless self from the opening bell before kicking it into high gear in the fourth where he knocked down Cardenas thrice.
The third knockdown was courtesy of a crushing body shot that forced the referee to stop the fight at the 2:47 mark of the fourth round.
The 28-year-old Peñalosa, who is promoted by his uncle and former two-division world champion Gerry, improved to 15-0, with 11 knockouts.
The taller Cardenas, who had his moments early, fell to 19-7-1, 15 KOs.