Gervonta Davis retained his World Boxing Association super featherweight world title with a vicious first-round knockout of former world champion Hugo Ruiz on Saturday. Unbeaten Davis lived up to his knockout-artist reputation with his 20th win inside the distance out of his 21 victories.
The powerful southpaw hurt Ruiz with a straight left and then followed up with a three-punch combination capped by a right hook to the side of Ruiz's face that dropped the challenger to a knee. Ruiz, blood streaming from his nose, was able to rise but referee Jack Reiss called a halt at 2:59 of the first round. "Tonight I just wanted to put on a great performance," said Davis, who posted his 12th straight knockout.