Menard wins lightweight boxing title

NEW YORK – He goes by “Rock Hard Mighty” Mason Menard and Bahodir Mamadjonov found out why that nickname is the perfect fit for the Rayne native Friday evening in the ShoBox co-main event at Rochester’s Rhinos Stadium.
Menard (32-1, 24 KOs) floored Mamadjonov twice with body shots in the seventh round and then landed another series of power shots in the ninth, leading to a third and final knockdown that prompted referee Steve Smoger to call a halt to the contest.
“I knew if I kept putting pressure on him, slowly he would fade and I would take him out in the later rounds and that’s exactly how it happened,” said Menard, who claimed the WBO NABO Lightweight title with the victory.
“He was hurting to the body. I knew after the first couple rounds he was breathing really heavy, so the gameplan was to start touching him to the body. It was affecting him greatly.”
Mamadjonov, a southpaw who was 19-3 with 11 knockouts, controlled the first six rounds, landing repeated left hands before Menard turned the fight around in the seventh with vicious body shots that resulted in a pair of knockdowns.
A combination of body shots followed by a straight right in the ninth spelled the end for Mamadjonov.
“I felt great, but it was a B-level performance for me,” said Menard. “I could have done better. My opponent was an awkward fighter and we got him with two weeks notice.
“But I’m definitely excited to get my second SHOWTIME knockout. It’s been years since I went that many rounds so it was good to know I can go that long and still finish strong.”