LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – NOVEMBER 02: Ryan Garcia knocks down Romero Duno in the first round of a lightweight fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on November 2, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Garcia won with a first-round TKO. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP
Filipino Romero Duno was expected to give undefeated Mexican-American prospect Ryan Garcia his toughest test yet.
Duno, however, hardly even made Garcia sweat as he lasted for just less than two minutes before getting knocked out in the first round of their much-anticipated lightweight bout in the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez and Sergey Kovalev main event Sunday (Manila time) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Garcia sent Duno down with a right to the temple. The Cotabato City native tried to get back up but he just couldn’t regain his balance, forcing referee Tony Weeks to stop the fight at the 1:22 mark.
The 21-year-old Garcia continued his torrid start as he picked up his 16th knockout and 19th win overall.
“I feel good. It’s kind of what I expected, like I said. But all respect to Duno. He came to fight. He came in shape. He caught me with that overhand right. You seen right on the chin, and I took it,” Garcia told DAZN’s Chris Mannix after his quick victory.
“And then, from there, I knew I could just keep taking ‘em and keep coming at him. So when I took his best shot, I felt good. I was like, ‘All right, I got him.’”
Garcia took the vacant WBC silver belt and Duno’s NABO crown.
Duno saw his 12-fight winning streak come to a screeching halt. He dropped to 21-2, with 16 knockouts.