LAS VEGAS William Joppy of the United States retained his World Boxing Association Middleweight Championship by stopping Roberto Duran of Panama with six seconds left in the third round on Friday. Joppy dominated the 47-year-old Duran from the opening bell, and was battering his head relentlessly when referee Joe Cortez mercifully halted the one-sided bout. There were no knockdowns but Joppy's tremendous hand speed allowed him to pummel a slow and virtually defenseless Duran. I had to go for the kill, said Joppy. I needed a knockout because if I didn't knock him out it would make me look bad.

He is 47 years old. I should knock out a 47-year-old. Said Duran: I am OK, I am perfectly OK. It's no problem. I knew what was happening the whole time. Duran, interviewed on television, said: I am finished. when the interviewer thanked him for a great career, Duran evoking one of his most infamous moments when he quit in the ring against Sugar Leonard in 1980 replied: No mas.

But half an hour later his trainer, Ruben Gomez, said Duran had said that he was not retiring. Joppy is 26-1-1 with 20 bouts ending early. Duran who turned pro in 1967, three years before Joppy was born is now 102-14 with 69 inside the distance. (Reuter)