Kostya Tszyu wins his first title in dominant fashion when he drops IBF Super Lightweight Champion Jake Rodriguez five times in six rounds. Just seconds into the fight, Tszyu lands a looping right hand that floors Rodriguez. He buckles the champion's knees with a right hand at the end of the round and proceeds to light Rodriguez up over the next several rounds. Although Rodriguez remains game and lands his share of shots, Tszyu hurts him with another right in the fifth. With Tszyu tearing into him, Rodriguez appears to take a knee, but Referee Richard Steele does not rule it a knockdown. Tszyu gets one shortly thereafter, beating Rodriguez to his knee with a four-punch volley to open the sixth. Although he sustains a bad cut over his right eye from a clash of heads, Tszyu again sends Rodriguez to a knee. After Rodriguez beats the count, Steele bizarrely docks Tszyu a point for holding and hitting. Tszyu closes the show anyway, twice more beating Rodriguez to his knees before Steele mercifully stops the massacre.

Jake Rodriguez vs. Kostya Tszyu

Sharing a twin billing with IBF Welterweight Champion Felix Trinidad, WBC Champion Pernell Whitaker scores a rare knockout over former sparring partner Jake Rodriguez in six one-sided rounds. Whitaker wears Rodriguez out to the body and then drops him on his knees with a left hand to the head. Rodriguez gets to his feet, but Whitaker puts him back on his hands and knees with a right hook to the body shortly thereafter. The challenger fails to beat the count of Referee Frank Cappuccino the second time.

Jake Rodriguez vs. Kostya Tszyu

Collision Course: Pernell Whitaker vs. Jake Rodriguez

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