WBO Welterweight Champion Paul Williams stepped up to light middle and caged the vacant WBO belt by stopping former three time 154 pound world titlist Verno Phillips in the eighth round at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, CA in the highest profile bout in America this weekend.

Williams overcame a bad cut from a headclash early on and used his massive height and reach advantage to good effect, keeping the much older Phillips at bay with hard shots to the body and head.

It was the constant body shots which seemed to take their toll on the former champion as he began to slow down later in the bout but Phillips also didn't have the power to trouble his far taller opponent despite not having much difficulty in hitting Williams when he did throw punches.

By the eighth round, Phillips was getting hurt and the bout was called to a halt before the ninth frame could begin to keep the 39 year old from further damage.

Williams wins the WBO Light Middle title, improving to 36-1 (27), while Phillips drops to 42-11-1 (21) after a brave performance in what could be the last big fight of his long career. More...

At Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, OK last night, heavyweight prospect Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson, 19-0-1 (6), retained his undefeated record with a solid ten round points win over Arkansas veteran Terry Smith, 30-5-1 (18).

28 year old Johnson enjoyed a eight year youth advantage and employed his more nimble skills to keep the oncoming Smith at bay. Johnson didn't have things all his way but Smith, who has now dropped his last three bouts, was never able to get to grips with the prospect.

The undercard featured a rematch between local light middle Carson Jones, 14-6-1 (7), and Kansas man Jose Luis Gonzalez, 11-3-1 (9). Just like in the initial bout this past January, Jones emerged the winner but this time at stake was the NABA title.

At the National Guard Armory in Philadelphia, PA, dangerous spoiler Jose Hernandez, 11-6-1 (5), of Atlanta upset the apple cart when he dramatically stopped previously undefeated local sensation Rashiem Jefferson, 15-1-1 (6), in the twelfth and final round of thi contest to win the vacant USBA Featherweight title.

The Casino Del Sol in Tuscon, AZ , Mexico City welter Freddy Hernandez, 21-1-1NC (17), returned from a no-contest last November against Roberto Garcia to win the vacant IBA belt with a unanimous decision over journeyman Norberto Bravo, 25-16-3 (14).