WBO welterweight champion Antonio Margarito (22-4, 24 KOs) destroyed Manuel "Shotgun" Gomez (28-11-2, 20 KOs) in just 74 seconds Saturday night at the Aladdin Resort in Las Vegas. In a battle between two fighters who have the reputation of being avoided, both men came out throwing bombs and Margarito flattened Gomez with a series of punches punctuated by a right hand. Gomez spit out his mouthpiece and referee Richard Steele stopped the fight. Afterward, Margarito said, "If Floyd doesn't recognize who Antonio Margarito is, I will let him know with my punches." Promoter Bob Arum said he hopes to put Margarito in with the winner of the April 8 Floyd Mayweather-Zab Judah on July 29.