LOS ANGELES - Jhonny Gonzalez defeated previously unbeaten champion Abner Mares in the first round to regain the World Boxing Council featherweight title in shocking fashion on Saturday. Gonzalez was awarded a TKO victory after nailing Mares with a devastating left hook that floored the champion. Mares got up and continued to fight on the ropes but was knocked down again by a flurry of punches from Gonzalez. The referee stopped the fight at 2:55 of the opening round. "I knew Mares was hurt and that sooner or later the fight would be over," Gonzalez said. It was the first career loss for the 27-year-old Mares, who drops to 26-1 with one draw. Mares had won six straight fights since registering a draw against Colombia's Yonhy Perez in 2010. Mares said he thought he could have continued. –AFP