Shane Mosley dominated from start to finish, knocking out Antonio Margarito for the first time in his career in the ninth round last night to win the WBA welterweight title in a stunning upset in Los Angeles.

Margarito was coming off an impressive victory over previously unbeaten Miguel Cotto six months ago, and boxing experts had tabbed the 30-year-old slugger one of the top pound-for-pound fighters.

But Mosley must not have been paying attention, ending the fight 43 seconds into the ninth round.

Despite his advancing age, the 37-year-old Mosley (46-5 with 39 knockouts) used his superior quickness from the beginning, and Margarito (37-6, 27 KOs) never was able to display the power and fortitude he showed against Cotto.

"It was my strategy, my focus, my game plan," Mosley said when asked what won the fight. It was a tough fight, but it was a great plan. It was my left hook. I caught (Fernando) Vargas with it, I caught (Richardo) Mayorga with it."

Said Margarito, "I feel OK. I was just getting caught over and over."

FIGURE SKATING

CZISNY WINS U.S. TITLE

Alissa Czisny has made a rebound for the ages, winning the women's title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships last night in Cleveland.

The 21-year-old, who just last year finished a disastrous ninth, earned 178.06 points, easily beating reigning world junior champion Rachael Flatt. Caroline Zhang, the 2007 junior world champion, was third.

SOCCER

U.S. TOPS SWEDEN, 3-2

Sacha Kljestan scored his first three international goals, one off an assist from Kamehameha Schools alum Brian Ching, to give the United States a 3-2 victory over Sweden in a soccer exhibition last night at Carson, Calif.

Kljestan, who plays for Chivas USA, became the second player in national-team history to score his first three goals in one game. Aldo Donelli first accomplished the feat in 1934.

SKIING

VONN 2ND IN DOWNHILL

Dominique Gisin of Switzerland won her second straight downhill yesterday, edging Lindsey Vonn and Anja Paerson in one of the most prestigious races on the women's World Cup circuit.

Gisin timed 1 minute, 16.98 seconds down the shortened Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina D'Ampezzo, Italy. Vonn finished second, 0.15 seconds behind, and Paerson was third, 0.17 back, despite landing a jump awkwardly and injuring her left knee.

MILLER FINISHES FOURTH

Didier Defago of Switzerland won a World Cup downhill race for his second victory in eight days, while Bode Miller finished tied for fourth yesterday at Kitzbuehel, Austria.

Defago charged down the famed Streif course in 1 minute, 56.09 seconds to beat Michael Walchhofer of Austria by 0.17 seconds. He also won a World Cup downhill last Saturday.

AND WHAT'S MORE ...

Former Oakland A's slugger Jose Canseco, who has 462 career home runs, showed he has only warning track power in the ring when the celebrity boxing match with former Partridge kid Danny Bonaduce ended in a draw last night at Aston, Pa. ... Laura Lepisto rewarded the enthusiastic home crowd yesterday, holding off Carolina Kostner to win Finland's first women's title at the European Figure Skating Championships at Helsinki, Finland.