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Floyd Mayweather Jr 135 lbs beat Phillip Ndou 134 lbs by TKO at 1:08 in round 7 of 12
Date: 2003-11-01
Location: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Judge: Memo Ayon 59-54
Referee: Frank Garza
Judge: Jack Woodburn 60-52
Judge: Harold Laurens 59-54
World Boxing Council Lightweight Title (3rd defense by Mayweather)
The Ring Magazine Lightweight Title (3rd defense by Mayweather)
Ring Announcer: Michael Buffer
Aired On: HBO
Mayweather's Purse: $3 million

WBC lightweight champ Mayweather KOs Ndou
By Dan Rafael, USA TODAY, November 2, 2003

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Floyd Mayweather Jr. (No. 1 USA TODAY, 31-0, 21 KOs), who plans to move up to 140 pounds, successfully defended his lightweight crown with a seventh-round TKO of South African puncher Phillip N'dou (No. 10, 31-2) Saturday night in front of his hometown fans in Grand Rapids, Mich.

In his most impressive performance since dismantling Diego Corrales in 2001, Mayweather dominated N'dou before flooring him with a series of right hands in the seventh. N'dou got up on shaky legs, forcing a stoppage at 1:50.

Mayweather was so in charge of the fight that at times he allowed a hurt Ndou to throw a few weak punches while he played to crowd.

"I wanted to throw a lot more punches, give the fans a war," said Mayweather, who improved to 13-0 in world championship fights. "My plan was to stand in the pocket and give some shots, and take some shots."

Ndou (31-2, 30 KOs) is known for throwing a lot of punches without much regard for defense, and he lived up to his reputation.

The 26-year-old fighter connected with some punches, but he was on the receiving end of numerous Mayweather straight right hands, left hooks and body shots.

"I fought the best in the world, Floyd Mayweather, and he's something special," Ndou said. "You can't take anything away from him. He's the champion."

Mayweather, also 26, probably was fighting for the last time at his current weight. He confirmed after the fight that he will move up to 140 pounds for his next bout.

Mayweather's previous professional fights in his hometown have at times been underwhelming. He even was booed at one of them.

"It's a great feeling to come home and give the fans a solid fight," he said. "He was a big puncher, but I have granite for a chin."

The first three rounds featured some decent exchanges, but the fourth is when the slugfest began.

In that round, Mayweather was successful with a number of straight right-left hook combinations. For much of the fourth, the fighters exchanged punches in the middle of the ring without any attempt to move.

In the fifth, Mayweather connected on a series of straight rights and lefts, and when Ndou wouldn't go down, Mayweather gave a little smile and then continued the barrage.

At times, Mayweather, clad in black trunks outlined with fur, toyed with Ndou.

Saturday night's fight was the third defense of his lightweight title, which he won in April of last year in a decision over Jose Luis Castillo.

Mayweather beat Castillo in a rematch late last year and then beat Victoriano Sosa on April 19.

Mayweather won the WBC super featherweight title in 1998 and held it until giving it up to fight Castillo.

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