• Boxing

McDonnell stops Bracco in three

ESPN staff
July 2, 2010

Jamie McDonnell made a winning first defence of his European bantamweight crown with a third-round stoppage of Rodrigo Bracco.

McDonnell won the title in France and having enjoyed great success on the road, put on a show in front of his home fans at the Doncaster Dome.

The Yorkshireman dominated from the first bell and landed some crisp shots before stepping up the pace in the third. He rocked Bracco with a series of head and body shots. Bracco was staggering as the seconds ticked down and the referee stepped in to call a halt to the fight - taking McDonnell's professional record to 15-2-1.

"I'm over the moon," McDonnell told Sky Sports. "It became an easy fight. He's only small and I felt like I was destroying him with the jab.

"I got tagged with a few when I started letting go but you are going to get caught with one or two, so I am well pleased with that performance.

"I felt in control from the weigh-in. I knew I had hurt him and knew he was going. I am improving and learning all the time. I believe I can be a world champion."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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