Bernard Dunne lands a left early in the fight in Dublin

Bernard Dunne won the WBA super-bantamweight title by knocking out Panamanian Ricardo Cordoba in a brutal contest in Dublin on Saturday.

After putting champion Cordoba down in the third round, Dubliner Dunne looked set for defeat when he was dumped to the canvas twice in the fifth.

However, Dunne, 29, regrouped and Cordoba was felled three times in round 11 before a halt was called.

Cordoba had to be stretchered out of the ring after the bout.

Immediate reports suggested the 24-year-old was not in major distress, although he was taken to a Dublin hospital as a precaution.

Both boxers got to work early on at The 02 Arena with Dunne attempting to come to terms with Cordoba's southpaw style.

However, Dunne produced a peach of a left hook in the third round to send Corboda reeling back across the ring and staggering to the canvas.

606: DEBATE Dunne has moved upon many rungs on my estimation ladder DennisTheDangleberry

Dunne landed a couple of more decent shots in the fourth although a clash of heads saw him sustain a cut just above his left eye.

Sensing his chance, Cordoba swarmed over a struggling Dunne in the fifth and the Irishman was saved by the bell as he took heavy punishment on the ropes after two knockdowns earlier in the round.

Somehow, Dunne managed to work himself back into the contest in the sixth and the seventh was another even round, as the Irishman continued his recovery.

By the 10th, Cordoba appeared the more tired fighter, although one hefty blow from either boxer looked likely to hasten the end of the contest.

Sensing his opportunity, Dunne summoned up a huge effort in the 11th to put the Panamanian on the canvas twice early in the round.

With the clock running down, Cordoba looked likely to survive the round but in the closing seconds, another huge Dunne uppercut left his rival sprawled on his back.

Cordoba, who had only suffered one defeat in 37 fights going into the contest, had been a strong favourite.

Dunne's victory completed a memorable day for Irish sport after the country's Grand Slam rugby triumph a few hours earlier. He now has 28 wins from 29 fights.

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