By Rick Reeno

StubHub Center, Carson, California - Omar Figueroa (24-0-1, 18KOs) had yet another fire-fisted war, retaining his WBC lightweight title with a ninth round stoppage of mandatory challenger Daniel Estrada (32-3-1, 24KOs).

There was no feeling out process. It was bombs away from the opening bell. Figueroa had the edge with the power punches landing but Estrada was landing as good as he was taking as well.

Things slowed down a bit in by the fifth and continued forward at more of a measured pace. In the final minute of the eight, they went back to war with both fighters having their moments with hard combinations landing flush - and Figueroa had a very bad cut on the lower part of his forehead/right eyebrow.

At the start of the ninth, a massive right hand bomb from Figueroa dropped Estrada, nearly on his face. He made it up on wobbly legs and Figueroa went for the kill, unloading the kitchen as he pinned Estrada against the ropes - until the referee jumped in to wave off the fight.