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Updated at 2:16 p.m., Saturday, July 14, 2007

Boxing: Luevano stops Cook for featherweight title

Associated Press

LONDON — Steve Luevano floored Nicky Cook five times on the way to an 11th-round knockout to capture the WBO featherweight title today.

The American landed a left to the British fighter's ribs 30 seconds into the round and Cook was counted out.

Luevano, 33-1, also knocked down Cook in the second and third rounds and twice in the ninth. Although the British fighter landed some powerful body shots in the middle of the fight, the American's punches to the ribs were far more damaging.

On the undercard, Amir Khan survived a sixth-round knockdown to stop defending champion Willie Limond after eight and capture the Commonwealth lightweight title.

In his 13th fight as a pro, the former Olympic silver medalist looked in danger of his first loss when Limond — the best fighter he has faced so far — knocked him down with two right hands followed by a left hook.

Khan got up to complete a standing count but had to defend strongly against the Scot, who had lost only one of 29 previous bouts.

But Khan began to unload combinations the next round and Limond's face was smeared with blood from cuts around his nose and mouth by the end of the eighth. Khan appeared to be well on top by the time Limond's corner refused to let him come out for the ninth. After the fight, his team believed the Scot had a fractured jaw.

"At least I have shown that I can take shots and come back even when I am hurt," said Khan, considered a strong contender for a world title.

"I made a mistake and got caught with a right hand. It could have changed the fight but it didn't. I showed I have got a good chin. Good fighters go down, get back up and knock the other guy down and I did that."