Morales, in his 16th title fight, had too much experience, and too much punching power for Velardez, who was fighting for a title for the first time. Velardez was a game challenger and kept coming forward, but took a beating at the hands of a confident champion. He was knocked down late in the first round, twice more in the fourth and a final time in the fifth.
Referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight without giving Velardez a count after the final knockdown at 1:02 of the fifth round.
Morales (44-1, 33 knockouts) said he had trouble making the 56.7kg limit and would either move up to 130 pounds or fight a third bout with Marco Antonio Barrera at 57.6kg. Barrera handed Morales his only loss last June in a disputed 12-round decision.
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