WBO Champ Montiel Blasts Out Castillo

Power and precision were all part of the process as Mexico's Fernando "El Cochulito" Montiel retained his WBO super flyweight crown by scoring a one-sided fourth round TKO over challenger Martin "El Gallito" Castillo.

Fighting on the undercard of the Kelly Pavlik versus Jermain Taylor rematch, the 28-year-old native of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, was making his third successful title defense and he left a lasting impression on the Vegas fight fans and the challenger.

The two-time WBO champion Montiel dropped Castillo in the 1st, cut the challenger's left eye in the 2nd stanza and then finished off the former WBA 115-pound king in the 4th, after landing a volley of punishing shots including a wicked left hook to the liver. Referee Joe Cortez counted out Castillo, who remained on his knees with his head bowed at the 1:55 mark of the fourth round.

"I felt very strong, and when I put him down in the first round, I knew it was going to be my night," Montiel calmly explained after the victory. "Fighting is about styles, and tonight I think he just couldn't figure out what I was doing."

Undercard: The son of legendary world champion Thomas Hearns, Ronald "The Chosen One" Hearns (18-0, 14 KO's) remained undefeated against largely suspect opposition by scoring a eight round knockout over Missouri's Juan Astorga (12-2-1, 7 KO's) in a junior middleweight clash. Former WBC 108-pound champion and American Olympian Brian "Hawaiian Punch" Viloria (21-2, 12 KO's) kept his title hopes alive by posting an eight round unanimous decision over Cesar Lopez (20-6, 4 KO's).