John Leo Dato during the official weigh-in. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
LAS VEGAS—Filipino John Leo Dato kicked off Saturday’s festivities in style.
Dato, one of three Filipinos in the Manny Pacquiao-Keith Thurman undercard, knocked out Juan Antonio Lopez in their eight-round featherweight fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena here.
The 26-year-old Dato, who was born in La Union and now resides in Santa Maria, California, dropped Lopez with a crushing body shot to end the fight at the 2:05 mark of the fifth round.
John Leo Dato ends Juan Antonio Lopez's night with a fifth-round KD to kickoff #PacThurman!🥊
Eight-division World Champion Manny Pacquiao faces World Champion Keith Thurman for WBA supremacy! BUY NOW: https://t.co/AeIXwbC2Dr pic.twitter.com/H3MzO81MPI
— FOX Sports: PBC (@PBConFOX) July 20, 2019
Dato extended his undefeated streak to 12-0 with eight knockouts and a draw.
Flashing his punching power, he has now stopped three of his last four opponents.