By Stuart Leland: In an exciting fight, which saw two knockdowns in the opening minute of action, Kendal Holt (24-2, 13 KOs) got off the canvas twice to stop WBO light welterweight champion Ricardo Torres (32-2, 28 KOs) in the 1st round of a scheduled 12-round title bout at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. At the opening bell, Torres, 28, rushed across the ring and tagged Holt with a couple of big shots. Just as Holt was beginning to pull away, however, he was nailed by a big right hand from Torres, sending him to the canvas.
Holt immediately got up, and looked to have started fighting a little too quickly, because he was hit twice more by Torres, and then knocked down a second time in the round by another big right hand from Torres. After receiving a standing eight count from referee Jay Nady, Holt was allowed to continue. Despite the two knockdowns, he looked to perfectly fine, as if he’d never been knocked down at all.